Co-organiser of the event, Maurice Gowen shares more:
“Many of the lovely churches throughout Norfolk are open and the Car Run is a great way to visit some of them and drive our quieter country roads.
This year 10 pre-war cars including a 1927 MG and 1934 Rolls Royce as well a wide range from 1940s – 1970s and some more modern marks took part.
To start the day, as well as providing the usual hospitality in the refectory Café, entrants received a rally plaque as a souvenir and their Route Book at which time the route and church visits became known.
The Bishop of Thetford, the Rt Revd Alan Winton choose his ‘Car of the Day’, a beautiful 1958 Aston Marton MkIII owned by Bruce and Sue Wellings.
Cars were set off on their way from Norwich Cathedral by Bishop Alan. This year the run, Breckland and Forests, passed about 30 churches with six specifically chosen for stop-offs where help was on hand for information.
The featured churches were at Hethersett, the beautiful Wymondham Abbey, Great Ellingham, Merton, Beckles, Wilby and ended at St Peter and St Paul Church in East Harling where a packed congregation enjoyed the ‘pit-stop’ service led by the Revd David Smith and Bishop Alan.
The day was a great social event with the rare opportunity of seeing some of our more out of the way lovely churches and enjoying the quieter countryside.”
The Norfolk Open Churches Classic Car Run is organised by Richard Mitchell and Maurice Gowen. Profits from the event go towards the maintenance and upkeep of Norwich Cathedral.