THE RON SCARFE MEMORIAL RIDE 2014
In Memory of Ron Scarfe
Maggi read out a Memorial to our dear friend and fellow Ride & Stride cyclist for several years,
Ron Scarfe, who sadly died last year:
We, the adventurous cyclists from the Church of the Holy Sprite, as Ron would have called it, are
about to embark on our Grand Tour of the churches of Portsmouth, with Ron Scarfe as our
inspiration.
In 2012, aged 78, he cycled his last Ride and Stride. He was our scribe and jotted down times of
arrival and departure at all the churches. He added his own quirky comments on each church and
the reception we got there.
He handed out luncheon meat and sausage sandwiches, which didn't seem too appetising after all
the cake and biscuits we had already consumed en route.
Those of us who have done the Ride and Stride with Ron before will miss him very much this year,
but we are also very happy to see so many new riders here, who, hopefully, will be our future - and
although Ron isn't cycling with us today, his bicycle will be - thanks to Mike Bourner!
The team: Caroline Blandford, Tony Rossi, Vicky Nicholls, Jackie Rossi, Mike Bourner, Maggi Bridgman, Mike Bridgman
(Area Co-ordinator for Portsmouth Churches Ride+Stride), with the Dean of St John’s RC Cathedral, Dominic Golding.
Vicky said the Ride & Stride Prayer, then the Three Graces: Frances, Molly and Pat, waved us on
our way…
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First stop ...
10.10 St Simon's Church - we were greeted by Matthew Holland, the Vicar. We were apparently
being offered copious refreshments and craft activities, but no, they were ready for a Messy
Church session. They were also getting ready to celebrate their 150th birthday later that day. Dark
walls have been lightened and the 19th Century Gothic arches cleaned, so it was looking its best.
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10.25 St Thomas's Cathedral – we were greeted politely by one slightly bemused lady who
presided over a signing-in sheet on a little table. Although refreshments were advertised none
were available - no surprise there! There were no banners, posters or other Ride and Stride
advertising either!
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10.30 John Pounds Unitarian Chapel - this year we were expected and arrived in plenty of time
before the first wedding of the day! The minister offered us tea and biscuits and we admired the
shining astroturf in the garden surrounding the church.
10.45 St George's Church - we congratulated them on recently auctioning an antique table for
£35,000. This will give a big boost to the building fund. The Vicar, Jane Robinson, and her team
were on duty and were as welcoming and friendly as always.
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Maggi, Dean Dominic Golding, & Nick Fox
11.05 St John's RC Cathedral - what a difference in the reception here compared with the one we
received at St Thomas's! The large banner advertising the Ride and Stride for the whole
Portsmouth Diocese was loaned to them and they chose to put it on the railings next to the main
road. This was the first time that the Roman Catholic churches had taken part and their coordinator, Nick Fox, had pulled out all the stops. He had created several large banners and yellow
posters to promote the day and he organised a photoshoot with the Dean and a bright yellow
tandem! We were then encouraged to sit in the cafe and partake of tea, coffee, cold drinks, cake
and sandwiches. We also left clutching leather bookmarks and postcards.
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11.50 St Luke's Church - this was the first time some of us had seen the inside of this church which
has been closed for a while for refurbishment. It is similar in age and style to St Simon's but
relatively bare. It seems to be in rather a state of flux because the congregation has been joined by
that of St Peter's which has recently been closed.
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12.05 St Faith's Church - we were welcomed by dear Rosemary Eden who is always on hand to
greet Riders & Striders each year. She offered us squash and biscuits in the church hall. It is a
small, modern church built in 1956/7 and graced by beautifully carved Stations of the Cross. It
offers a home to British Orthodox worshippers as well as to the more usual Church of England
variety.
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12.20 St Mary's Church - Father Bob White met us at the door of this grand Victorian Gothic
edifice. He also has in his care the far less imposing St Faith's and St Wilfred's. All the mid-19th
Century churches have been cleaned and re-ordered and it is a joy to behold! St Mary's was open
for a table-top sale and trips up the bell tower - tempting but we had to journey on. But like many
churches we visited on the day – was getting ready for a wedding!
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12.30 St Wilfred's Church - in previous years this church has been open for a table-top sale and
we have benefitted from their cafe area, but this year they were closed unfortunately. It was built
in 1908 and I remember it being quite small and plain, predominantly in dark wood. According to
their website, in 2008 they were expecting to be knocked down and the site turned into residential use,
but it looks as if they have escaped that fate so far! At this point we said goodbye to Caroline, whose
bicycle refused to take her any further north. She visited the churches along the route going south
and back to the Holy Spirit. We were all full of admiration for her after the year she has had,
deciding to get back on her bike and do a long and challenging ride for charity. WELL DONE,
CAROLINE!
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12.45 St Mark's Church - the 'new' church, replacing the church of 1873, was consecrated in 1970
in the heart of North End, with a brutally modernist exterior, reminiscent of the Tricorn! We
arrived at the tail end of yet another table-top sale. The members of the congregation who were
there knew about us but were distracted because the Vicar, Tom Kennar, has recently suffered a
heart attack. The church hall is in the basement which is, however, an open, light area and the
worship area is upstairs but it was locked and we weren't able to see it, understandably but
disappointingly.
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12.55 St Saviour's Church - we were met by 3 very welcoming ladies. The church is starkly
attractive, with a Continental feel to it - white walls and beams as dark as ebony. It was built in
1913, replacing the iron church of 1901. Most of the Holy Spirit congregation will remember their
priests, Father Roger Calder and Father Martin Dorrell, helping us out during the Interregnum.
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13.29 St Francis’ Church - set back from the road and unassuming in Northern Parade it would be
easy to miss it. We were greeted warmly by the North End Ministry Team Curate and Priest
Responsible (phew!), Tony Forrest. The older part of the church was consecrated in 1936 as the St
Francis Mission and also served as a church hall. It was re-ordered in 1992 to allow the main
church to be screened off from the church hall part. It still retains a flavour of the Mission Hall in
its simplicity.
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St Philip’s ornate ciborium
13.45 St Philip's Church - a light, bright, high-ceilinged church, the last one to be designed by its
renowned architect, Ninian Comper, in 1937. The feeling of openness is increased by the light
wood chairs which are placed in an arc facing the altar. The Council estate grew up around the
church, so it is in the unusual position - stately and imposing in a sea of apartment blocks! I was
very pleased to see that no windows had been broken recently and there is now a Priest in Charge
whom they share with Wymering Church - things are looking up!
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14.05 St Peter and St Paul’s Church - we were treated to the usual friendly greeting and
refreshments though we didn’t have long to view as a wedding was about to ensue. This is the
oldest church in Portsmouth, built before 1129 as a place of worship for tenants of a Norman Lord
of the Manor, on land belonging to Southwick Priory, as was the Chapel of St Thomas a
Canterbury, later to become the Cathedral. The oldest surviving part dates from 1180.
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14.30 St Michael and All Angels’ Church - the ride up hill was worth the climb as we were greeted
by a sweet lady manning the Church who offered us rest and refreshment. This church was
consecrated in 1957, the pews donated by the London church of St Edmund King and Martyr. The
main part of the church acts as a church hall and is partitioned off from the worship area by a
three-quarter depth screen, apparently made of fibreglass! I couldn't say it was attractive. On the
wall behind the altar is an enormous painting of the Temptation of Christ by Freibusch, which
dominates the Church.
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15.00 Church of the Resurrection - founded in 1930 and closed to the Riders and Striders as usual!
No surprises there - and it was particularly galling after puffing up a steep hill! But it did have a
note on the door remarking, ‘Sorry we’re now closed – but St Andrews is still open who will greet
you’…!!
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15.10 St Andrew's Church - there has been a church on this site since the 12th Century and a list
of rectors from 1287 is on the north wall. Recorded history begins in the mid 19th Century when a
quarrel between the Rector and the local squire delayed the refurbishment of the medieval
church. Eventually the Rector paid for the rebuilding of the Chancel in 1872 and the Nave three
years later. The grafting of new on to old has been achieved sensitively - the wedding couple and
their guests who prevented us looking inside the church this year, must have been delighted with
the back drop to their photographs! The young female parishioner who has welcomed us in
previous years had taken the trouble to wait outside the church for Riders and Striders bearing
boxes of chocolate and fudge brownies! What hospitality!
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We then travelled some fair distance south along the windy Eastern Road to…
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15.57 St Cuthbert's Church - originally consecrated in 1915 and badly damaged during the second
world war, this church has been undergoing a lot of changes to its structure. It now serves the
local community in many ways other than that of a place of worship. The worship area is dramatic
- not crowded with furniture but the focus is drawn to the outstanding font - a beautiful blue
metal stand and top which looks like glass, patterned with a blue and white swirling design. We
were greeted by Alan Phillips and his son who offered us a full range of drinks and cakes! We were
ready for some cake by this time!
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16.20 St James’ Church - our sister church, celebrated its 150th birthday in 1994. The congregation
had had a table-top sale in the morning and the lady who greeted us, Anne Kerle, had been on
duty all day. This was the case in most of the churches - so Very Well Done, all you Meeters and
Greeters!
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16.30 St Margaret's Church - there was a young lady sitting outside the church at a signing-in table
but it was possible to go into the church and admire the lovely rose window at the eastern end. It
is one of many churches, including our own, with a plain brick exterior and a light and surprising
interior. Built in 1903.
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16.40 Trinity Methodist Church - we learned later from Caroline, who arrived in time to have a
look inside, that they had closed to visitors about 10 minutes before we turned up! Built in 1901, it
is now a listed building and sports its original pipe-organ. It is traditional Methodist in style lined
with dark wood and full of ponderous pews. Its best feature is the impressive ‘campanile’ bell
tower, a well-know local landmark.
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16.45 Church of The Holy Spirit - we arrived back to the most beautiful church of all – our Holy
Spirit! - and were welcomed home by Sue and Phil Kanavan, who were also there to help set up
the church hall for the Quiz Night later that evening.
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With two of the team riding bikes that were less than comfortable, one being 50 years old (the
bike that is!) and the other with saddle and handlebars that were too low, it was wonderful that
we all returned in one piece and glowing with a sense of achievement and with our spirits greatly
lifted by the experience - definitely 'wine o’clock' as we agreed at the time! - Cheers!
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Words: Maggi Bridgman
Pictures: Mike Bridgman & Nick Fox
2014 Ride+Stride, Saturday 13th September 2014