Churches across Worcestershire and Dudley are opening their doors for this year’s Heritage Open Days with a range of activities for all ages and a chance to discover the story behind our historic churches and the communities they serve.
This year’s Heritage Open Days take place between 11 – 20 September and are an opportunity to celebrate our heritage, community and history; exploring hidden places and trying new experiences. Churches are hosting events which will be completely free to attend.
Many churches will also be open to welcome participants taking part in Ride and Stride on Saturday 12 September. People are sponsored to visit as many churches as they can to raise money for their local church and the Historic Churches Trust.
Churches taking part in the Heritage Open Days include:
St John the Baptist Church, Wickhamford
Friday 11, Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September, 10.30am – 4pm.
Explore the story of Wickhamford from Roman times to the present day. There will be information panels with photographs and maps illustrating market gardening; family histories; local surnames; people lost in the world wars; those buried in the churchyard; individuals memorialised in the church. Explore Wickhamford’s connection with Evesham Abbey; the Sandys Family; the Washington Family and the Lees-Milne Family and add your own family connections!
All Saints Church, Bromsgrove
Saturday 12 September, 10am – 4pm
All Saints has Arts and Crafts features, including work by the Bromsgrove Guild and stained-glass windows. See an exhibition about the model laundry and cycle works that once used Blackmore Mill on the Spadesbourne Brook and bound copies of historic All Saints magazines. Refreshments available.
St Peter’s Church, Ipsley, Redditch
Saturday 12 September, 10am – 4pm
What have the Victorians done for us at St Peter's Church? See displays and photographs to show how the Victorians not only changed the church building in Ipsley, but how the community changed with the growth of the local needle mills. During the open day, the church bellringers will ring. There will be a plant sale, children's activities and refreshments.
St John’s Church, Bromsgrove
Saturday 12 September, 10.30am – 3pm
A light-hearted Cake and Coffee Concert with the Orchestra of St John at 10.30am featuring 'A Musical Joke' by Mozart and Haydn's Symphony No.60. Refreshments served after the concert followed by an opportunity to explore the building on one of the history tours, have a go on the organ, climb the tower, try an interactive quiz and more!
St Stephen’s Church, Redditch
Every day from Saturday 12 to Sunday 20 September from 10am
Step inside one of Redditch's most iconic landmarks and discover the stories of the ordinary people who have shaped our church and town for more than 170 years. Discover stories from Redditch's needle-making past, view medieval tiles recovered from Bordesley Abbey, learn about the people remembered in our stained glass and memorials and climb the tower and see the bells.
St Mary’s Church, Elmley Castle
Saturday 12 September, 11am – 5pm.
There will be bellringing and a church exhibition at this magnificent Norman Grade 1 church with many monuments inside and out.
St Nicholas Church, Pinvin
Saturday 12 and Saturday 20 September, 11am – 3.30pm
Visit this nearly 900 year old church to see their 13th century Wall Paintings and a photo of the church before it was altered by the Victorians. Tours will be available between midday and 1.30pm.
St Edmund’s Church, Dudley
Saturday 12 September, 11am – 1pm
Free tours with knowledgeable guides; vestment displays; memory photos of yesteryear; refreshments with all donations to the Dudley Foodbank.
Top Church, Dudley
Saturday 12 September, 1.30 – 3.30pm
Watch as characters from the past are brought to life through a digital display - venture down the crypt to hear Gervaise de Pagnall explain his inspiration for building the church, or take a seat in Mrs Coppice's kitchen for a gossip about what happened to the remains of that same church after it was rebuilt. Children can take part in an engaging trail to uncover secrets of the building and take on your family and friends for a game of giant Dudley-themed Monopoly. Refreshments available
Great Malvern Priory
Tuesday 15 September, 2pm: Architecture special tour; Thursday 17 September, 2pm: Medieval tiles and misericords special tour; Friday 18 September, 11am: Stained glass special tour.
The Priory was started in 1085 when a small group of Benedictine monks affiliated to Westminster Abbey were located in Malvern to be the stewards of the Royal Malvern Chase. On 15 Sept there will be a 30-minute tour of the Priory with an emphasis on the architecture and how it developed over the years. On 17 Sept the 30-minute tour will focus on the medieval tiles and misericords. On 18 Sept the tour will focus on the stained glass of the Priory - mediaeval and modern.
Little Malvern Priory
Thursday 17, Friday 19 and Saturday 19 September, 2 – 4pm
The history of the Priory can be traced back to the 12th Century when it was established as a small Benedictine community of about fifteen monks under the control of Worcester Cathedral. The painted glass in the East window portrays Edward V (one of the princes in the tower) and his family - one of only two portrayals in existence.
St Michaels and All Angels Church, Stoke Prior
Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September, 10am - 4pm
The nave, chancel and north aisle of Stoke Prior's Grade I Listed church date from the 12th Century. The octagonal font has eight carved panels and dates from the 14th Century. Visit a special display featurng great variety of interesting items relating to everyday working lives, and local companies including the Brush Works; Garringtons; Deritend (Droitwich) and the Salt Works. There will also be memories of leisure activities including memorabilia relating to cubs and scouts and a 1927 large-scale Ordnance Survey map of the local area.
St Mary's Church, Kiddermintser
Saturday 19 September, 10am - 2.30pm
An opportunity to climb the tower and see the bells and the view from the top!
St Mary’s Church, Kingswinford
Saturday 19 September, 10am – 4pm
The Church will be open for visitors to explore freely with volunteers on hand to answer any questions you may have and provide valuable insight into this grade II listed building. There will be historic vestments on display, choir and organ performances and the bell tower will be open. Specialist talks will also take place throughout the day. Refreshments available.
St Michael’s Church, Brierley Hill
Saturday 19 September, 10am – 3pm.
Explore the church and discover its architecture, memorials and historic features through tours taking place throughout the day. Follow the stained-glass safari to uncover symbols and hidden meanings, try traditional brass rubbing and have a go at using the church’s handbells. Enter the ringing room and try ringing one of the church bells, or join a guided walk through St Michael’s extensive churchyard and discover some of the people whose lives helped shape Brierley Hill. Refreshments available
Pershore Abbey
Saturday 19 September, 10.30am - 4pm.
Enjoy the beauty of this spectacular Abbey Church, learn about its history, enjoy the sound of its wonderful Ruffati organ, join a tour of the tower and the amazing views of the area, and relax with tea and cake. Dogs welcome on a lead. Members of the Abbey community will be on hand all day to show visitors around and answer questions.
Christ Church, Catshill
Saturday 19 September, 10am – 4pm and Sunday 20 September, 11am – 4pm.
Visit the beautiful stained-glass windows at this 187-year-old Village Church which has connections with the poet A.E, Housman and Christopher Morcom, childhood friend of the scientist Alan Turing.. There are First & Second World War graves and Memorial Books inside Church. Refreshments available.
St John’s Church, Hagley
Sunday 20 September, 1 – 5pm
Visitors will have the opportunity to chime one of the bells to see how important it is to get the correct timing between each of the bells.
