Often caught up the focus on athlete performance and technical outdoor gear, it’s easy for brands to forget the spirit of outdoor community.
Earlier this summer, County Durham residents from across the generations took part in a free community event. Walkers and runners gathered to tackle some or all of The Five Churches Round, a route of nearly 20 miles that links communities and the five churches in the Parish of the Upper Skerne.
On a warm and sunny day, participants visited St. Edmund’s in Sedgefield, St. Michael’s in Bishop Middleham, St. Alban’s in Trimdon Grange, St. Mary Magdalene’s in Trimdon Village and St. Catherine’s in Fishburn. Parishioners were in each church to welcome them, and serve refreshments as they made their way around the route.
Launched in 2025, The Five Churches Round was initially created to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Parish of the Upper Skerne. The idea came from Fishburn parish councillor Vivienne Anderson and the parish’s team rector The Revd David Lucas.
The route was devised by Chris Lines, a Durham county councillor for the area and member of Sedgefield Harriers, and uses footpaths and bridleways to take walkers and runners through County Durham countryside to link the churches.
This year’s tour of The Five Churches Round had two starting points – St. Edmund’s in Sedgefield and St. Alban’s in Trimdon Grange. Following a blessing by The Revd Lucas, around 50 people set off from Sedgefield, including local residents and visitors from Northumberland and Teesside.
A big group of youngsters took part among them players and management from Fishburn Community Football Club’s U-15 team, who used the event as a fundraiser for new equipment. They completed the full round and have nearly reached their target at www.gofundme.com/f/fundraising-for-training-kit-for-next-season.
All of the churches were open throughout the day and volunteer parishioners met walkers and runners, providing refreshments, including a variety of drinks, snacks and baked treats in St. Michael’s and St. Alban’s as well as bacon and sausage butties in St. Catherine’s. The Revd Lucas was on hand in St. Edmund’s to welcome everyone who completed a round, serving more drinks and snacks.
Event organiser Chris Lines said, “It was a wonderful day and a lovely way to bring together different people from our community. As well as Revd Lucas, the weather also blessed us and while it was pretty warm at times, we were all able to rehydrate at regular intervals in the churches. I’m so grateful to everyone who contributed, from those who led groups around the course or mowed verges and corralled cattle in advance to improve the experience, to the volunteers who opened up the churches and prepared and served some fantastic food and drink to our walkers and runners.
“It was brilliant to see folk of all ages take part – I was especially delighted that so many young people got involved, including the Fishburn footballers and a separate group of teenagers who turned up out of the blue and completed the full route. Throughout the day, we had great company, excellent weather, and precious time together getting active outdoors and visiting some beautiful churches, which all provided brilliant hospitality. All in all, it was a very wholesome and positive experience.”
The Five Churches Round is not currently waymarked but is a self-guided route that uses public rights of way. A leaflet has been designed and printed to promote the round – the detailed route is available free of charge as a GPX file for navigation devices. People can email fivechurchesround@gmail.com for a copy of the file and for details of where to find the leaflet.
The route is also available online at https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/356144780; information about the project can be found at www.facebook.com/FiveCRound.
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