Stuart Clarke and Andy McCormack spent a weekend visiting the 11 historic buildings across the country founded in the name of St Guthlac, while raising funds for the tower and lighting project at Market Deeping’s own St Guthlac’s Church.

They set off on their motorbikes at 6.30pm on the Friday and returned in time for Evensong at 6.30pm on the Sunday.

During the trip the pair, who were accompanied by passenger the Rev Philip Brent, visited Leicester, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Herefordshire, and a few other counties along the way.

Members of the congregation paid £1 a go to guess the average mileage that Stuart and Andy would cover during the trip and the nearest guess will win a £25 Marks and Spencer voucher.

Andy said: “We made it to all 11 churches during the weekend and are now calculating the miles to see who guessed the nearest.

“Each church welcomed us and we presented them with a plaque to remind them of the visit.

“We took St Guthlac with us for the ride.

“He was knitted by a parishoner and we photographed him at all 11 churches.”

Around £40,000 has already been raised to pay for the lighting to be rewired but around £50,000 is still needed to fund a new toilet and kitchen in the tower.

It’s not yet known how much Stuart and Andy have raised from the trip.