When a roof was finished at historic St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in King George in 1766, the parish had already existed for a century. The easiest way to travel was still by sea because no major roads existed.
Now the current roof is falling apart after almost a century of use, and Rector Padre Lee Gandiya will set off July 6 for a two-week, 1,000-mile fundraising journey across the Commonwealth of Virginia.
During a heavy rain, buckets near the St. Paul’s altar catch the runoff from a puncture left by a heavy storm in 2024. A new roof will cost about $250,000 (to conform to historic guidelines and remove asbestos). Padre Lee hopes to raise at least $25,000.
“We’ve got a long way to go, and clergy must lead from the front,” said Gandiya. “This is part of my contribution.”
Less seriously, Gandiya banters to prospective donors. “Every dollar helps—whether you believe in the Padre’s stamina or just want to see if miracles really happen,” he wrote to his parish.
“Someone has boldly bet $25 that the Rector won’t make it past mile ONE,” he added. “Surely we have more faith than that!”
We want to do this safely, right, but also to have fun in the process,” he said in an interview. “When I look back on all my bike rides, maintaining one’s sense of humor is very important.”
Morale, Not Just Money
Gandiya has charisma and energy expected from someone who also directs the Young Priest Initiative (YPI) for the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia. YPI is a pipeline for finding, forming, and supporting young leaders to serve the Episcopal Church.
Raising money as well as people’s spirits through a long bicycle pilgrimage is not new to Gandiya nor to a half-dozen clergy friends who do quests like this. After one of them cycled from the northern tip of Scotland to Land’s End, the southernmost tip of mainland England, it was Gandiya’s turn in 2025.
Before coming to St. Paul’s in 2016, Gandiya served for 23 years as chaplain in the Church of England for Her Majesty’s Armed Forces (Army) in Oxfordshire. He supported 16 locations in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, and Germany.
“Padre” is a British term for military chaplains, started by troops during World War I and II troops who heard Spanish-speaking allies use that term for their chaplains. St. Paul’s, where Gandiya serves, is close to Naval Support Facility Dahlgren, and several parishioners are veterans.
As a chaplain to NATO forces in Kosovo, Gandiya rode a child’s bike to each multinational brigade headquarters, where he led a service.
“We were doing a lot of children’s projects for families who had been displaced and seeing me on this kid’s bike around Kosovo was fundraising, community engagement but also part of morale for the troops, as something to talk about and forget about home,” he said.
While serving with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, Gandiya rode the length of the buffer zone dividing the Turkish and Greek troops. “From one end of the ceasefire line to the other,” he recalled. “The terrain was unforgiving.”
Support For a Roof, A Parish, A Cyclist
On July 6, Gandiya is heading on a looping route with daily mileage between 35 miles (grinding in the mountains) and 120 miles (cruising on the flatlands. Gandiya’s 17-year-old son Theo and parishioner Tom Gouldthorpe will drive a support vehicle; another parishioner with industry connections helped him source his bicycle.
Gandiya will start toward Fairfax then westward through Winchester down to Christiansburg. He’ll pick up speed near Martinsville and South Boston, turn up to Williamsburg, Richmond then into the Northern Neck.
He won’t be weighed down by a prayer book or Bible; a smartphone app, Universalis, offers very short daily readings, which he relied on during military deployments.
The plan is to return to King George by Sunday, July 20. St. Paul’s had an average Sunday attendance of 70 people before the pandemic, and Gandis is hoping the bicycle ride will help rebuild that interest.
By mid-June, the parish had raised $67,000 for the roof repair.
It’s “about more than just cycling—it’s about restoring a piece of history,” he said. “For over 300 years, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church has stood on this hill, witnessing both triumphs and tragedies.”
One story that has stayed with Gandiya is that of an enslaved African woman, recorded by Bishop of Virginia William Meade. St. Paul’s was once a wooden structure that fell into ruin and had been abandoned by its minister and congregation, and the woman would return each week to sit alone among the fallen timbers.
“She’d reflect on the old prayers, telling others that the solitude and remembrance did her more good than the ‘new ways’ of worship,” Gandiya said. “Her quiet devotion and connection to this place remind me that history is not just about preserving buildings, but about honoring the stories and memories they hold. It’s been through the power of God that this place is still here.”
The ride is also reconnaissance for a future “Tour de Virginia,” which Gandiya described as “a cycling initiative that aims to connect communities, promote health, and celebrate the shared heritage of our state. From the roots of St. Paul’s to the hills and valleys of Virginia, this journey is about linking the past to the future and honoring the stories that make this land so rich.”
Anonymous Benefactor
On July 1, an anonymous donor pledged $10 per mile for the full 1,000-mile ride.
“What makes this even more meaningful is that the donor expressed a clear desire not to have exclusive recognition but instead to stand alongside others who are supporting this mission,” Gandiya said. “Each supporter plays an essential role. You don’t need a bike or to ride 1,000 miles. Whatever gifts you have, God can use you in powerful ways.”
To contribute, contact church treasurer Penny Turner (artreasspo@gmail.com, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 5486 St. Paul’s Road, King George, VA 22485)