Bishop joins charity bike ride through Sherwood Forest

A cycling-trek through Sherwood Forest is lined-up for the new Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham next week, when he joins a national charity bike-ride passing through the county.

The Rt Revd Paul Butler, who is chair of the Church Mission Society (CMS), will meet with a team of cyclists making a 700 mile journey, as they pass through Nottinghamshire on Wednesday 12th May, and will cycle alongside them as their route takes them through Sherwood Forest, and on to Southwell Minster. 

Bishop Paul said: “I’m looking forward to joining in this mammoth trip and offering some support at this early stage of the journey. The cycle ride is a fantastic way to mark the CMS Day 50 celebrations, as well as raising funds for its work around the world.”

Photo opportunities:
The Bishop will meet with the CMS cycling team at the Dog & Duck pub in Clipstone and will be available for a photo at approximately 11.30am on Wednesday 12th May. There will be another photo opportunity when the group arrive at Southwell Minster with the Bishop at about 1.30pm.

The team of cyclists will pass through 13 cities in total as they travel from Hull to London, crossing the Pennines twice, climbing the infamous Snake Pass, as well as plotting a way through Sherwood Forest. The two-week journey will take them across the Severn Road bridge into Wales and across London and they will finish at the CMS headquarters  in Oxford on the 22nd May just in time to join the CMS Day 50 celebrations.

The Bishop will also join the cyclists and other supporters for a special evening service at St Nic’s Church in Nottingham later the same day at 7.30pm, when there will be a presentation on the work of CMS and how churches can get involved.