Beat the Bounds – 5th September 2026

Special Walk to raise funds for the ministry of Frensham and Dockenfield Churches

 

Join us for our bi-annual traditional “Beating the Bounds” walk and help raise £14,000 to maintain having a priest for our two churches.  Whether you walk the whole route or just part of it, everyone is warmly welcome to take part in this enjoyable community event celebrating our parish boundaries, history and countryside.  Bring family, friends, dogs and wear sturdy walking shoes.

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We are inviting participants to seek sponsorship helping us to keep our Vicar for the Parish of Frensham!

• Date  Saturday: 5th September 2026

• Starting Point: 8:30 am at Frensham Ponds Hotel public carpark

• 1st stop: 10am at Squires Garden Centre, Frensham (About 3mls from Frensham Ponds Hotel)

• 2nd stop: 1pm for lunch (no picnics) at Bluebell Public House, Dockenfield (About 5mls from Squires)

• Finishing Point: 4pm at Frensham Ponds Hotel (About 3mls from the Bluebell)

 

To donate, please visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/beatthebounds26 and click on 'Give Now'.

To join the walk, please visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/beatthebounds26, click on 'Start Fundraising' and follow the instructions.  You will be given a unique website link that you simply copy into an email and send to your friends, family and colleagues.  They then visit your website and donate.  You will be able to view how much you have been sponsored for, day by day as you approach the 5th September!

 

Please feel free to only do part of the walk.  ‘Swatting’ is optional! (see below)

Beating the bounds or perambulating the bounds is an ancient custom still observed in parts of England, Wales, and the New England region of the United States, which involves swatting local landmarks with branches to maintain a shared mental map of parish boundaries, usually every seven years. The congregations of churches have observed this tradition throughout history and previously choir boys were used to beat the bounds by being bounced on certain stones or boundary markers! Health and safety does not allow this nowadays…!