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Barrie Thompson, Russell Boyce and Dave Finan are not what you might expect of committed Christians. They're as much at home riding a motorcycle as they are sitting in the pews in Church.

Barrie

Barrie Thompson came back to biking twelve years ago and it was during that time that he saw an advert for a Christian Motorcycling Association (CMA) event in North Yorkshire. He attended the event which encouraged him to become more involved with the work of the organisation. In his early days he was one of the original Mods and was into the scooter culture of the time, a far cry these days from one of his other current roles as a school crossing patrol warden in Cottingham in East Yorkshire.

Russell

Russell Boyce became involved with the CMA after visiting a BMF (British Motorcycling Federation) show 19 years ago. He's been riding motorcycles since he was fourteen Although he drifted away from听 the CMA for a while, he听 returned to the organisation around six years ago and joined the same branch as Barrie. After helping to organise the AGM of Barrie's local branch, he realised that the only way to get a Lincolnshire branch going was to start one up himself.

Dave

Dave Finan has ridden bikes since he was seventeen-years-old. He first joined the CMA in the late eighties for a couple of years and went to various events and rallies. Family commitments led to him putting his bike away for quite a time. It was only three years ago that he got back into biking. It happened after he'd been visiting the Churches 'Grapevine Event' at the Lincoln Showground. He felt compelled to bring a biking element to the proceedings and in 2007 he organised motorcycles to have an official place at the event for the first time in its 25 year history.

Divine providence?

During the interview Dave explains how it was almost divine providence that got him a motorcycle as a young man and says that he felt called to the Church as a consequence of riding his bike past a certain church. Although he readily admits to his family having a strong Methodist background.

There are branches of the CMA spread throughout the country with around 1,000 members regularly taking part in events wherever bikers gather. The organisation is also popular abroad, particularly in the United States where there are approximately 100,000 members. Mainland Europe also has a strong following with many UK members often attending European events.

Culture

The aim of the organisation is to spread the message of Christianity amongst bikers. One of the main ways of doing this is by the handing out copies of the 'Biker Bible, a small pocket size edition of the Bible which also includes stories of people who have found that religion has plenty to offer them.

Barrie, Dave & Russell

CMA members never force their beliefs on other bikers and say it's curiousity which draws them closer to the Church. Former Hell's Angels and Outlaw gang members are now part of the Church. The CMA is often invited to take part in many motorcycle events such as one recently held at Duncombe Park in North Yorkshire. This picture is of the gang at the Big Bike Festival in Lincoln.

Family ties

Being part of the CMA has become somewhat of a family affair. The main picture features Barrie's daughter Rebecca who although was introduced to biking at an early age wasn't particularly enamoured at the time. However since she's got a little older, she is now riding a bigger more powerful machine than her father. Now based in Cheshire she's a member of the CMA in Cheshire and is due to get married shortly, to perhaps unsurprisingly, another biker.

Join the gang

The CMA is keen to stress not all its members have a motorcycle and therefore it's membership is not exclusive. They positively encourage people from all walks of life to come along to their branch meetings and find out more. Details can be found on their web pages, the links for which are available on this page.