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 10 – 19 September and are an opportunity to celebrate our heritage, community and history; exploring hidden places and trying new experiences. A number of churches are hosting events which will be completely free to attend.
Saturday 11 September
- Tour St Michael’s Church, Brierley Hill to discover the oldest building in Brierley Hill and take part in craft activities including stained glass painting, sketching, handbells and making a model of the church’s tower. (9.30am – 2pm)
- At St Edmund, King and Martyr in Dudley learn about the oldest church in Dudley which was founded in the early 11th century; slighted during the English Civil War and rebuilt in 1714. (10am – 2pm)
- At All Saints’ Church in Bromsgrove see the Bromsgrove Guild Windows and other items, enjoy live music and take part in a find the Saints treasure hunt as well as a scavenger hunt in the grounds. (10am – 4pm)
- At Hampton Lovett Church you will be able to explore the church's heritage and during the season of Harvest celebrate the history and examples of farming and food production from the local area where the church is located. (10am – 4pm)
- Join St Michael and All Angels, Stoke Prior to celebrate the completion of a six-year renovation and improvement project. The theme will be innovations past, present and future with a classic mini, a stationary engine and a steam traction engine on display outside the church. (Saturday 11 – Sunday 19 Sept, 10am – 4pm)
- Take a tour of Great Malvern Priory to discover the largest display of 15th-century stained glass in England, as well as carved misericords from the 15th and 16th centuries, the largest collection of medieval floor and wall tiles and major restoration work carried out by Sir George Gilbert Scott. (Sat 11, Wed 15 and Sat 18 Sept from 10.30am)
- Visit Little Malvern Priory, which was a Benedictine monastery c. 1171–1537 (Sat 11 & Sat 18 Sept, 10am – 6pm)
- At St James’ Church, West Malvern see a new display about the graveyard, which includes the grave of Peter Mark Roget, author of Roget's Thesaurus, who died while on holiday in the village. (Fri 10 – Sun 19 Sept, 10am – 4pm)
- St Stephen’s Church in Redditch will be open with the chance to take a tour of the tower, try bellringing and take part in craft activities. (from 11am)
- Visit The Beauchamp Community, Malvern for a one-hour tour of the church, chapel and historic buildings. (2pm on Sat 11, Tues 14 and Sat 18 Sept)
- At St Mary’s Church, Hanley Castle, there will be a Jam Jar Jamboree with flowers in jam jars, locally made produce and jam jar crafts! (Sat 11 & Sun 12 Sept, 12 – 5pm)
Wednesday 15 September
- At Holy Trinity Church in Malvern discover Edward Elgar's parish Church with appropriate organ music and refreshments (2 – 4pm)
Saturday 18 September
- At St John’s Church, Brockmoor, there is a chance to view the Grade II listed building and chat to our knowledgeable churchwarden about the building and its history, can you find six edible themed items in the stained glass . (10am – midday)
- At Top Church in Dudley - Step back in time to 1900 via the medium of bread and find out how food has changed over time. With bread baking, stained glass making and face painting, talks from heritage professionals, a visiting exhibition from AfroHistories Dudley and a tour of the crypt. (11am – 3pm)
- At St Peter’s Church in Cradley, you can look up your relatives in the Parish Registers, browse through a selection of local history books for sale, bring your Teddy Bear to parachute off the tower and enjoy an organ concert (From 10am)
- St Peter’s Church, Pedmore, will be open with a slideshow tour of the church and of the events of the decades during the reign of Queen Elizabeth and a display of changes we can all make to care for creation. (Saturday & Sunday, midday – 6pm)
- Visit the Church of the Ascension in Malvern to see a display of vestments, children's trails, new guidebook. Guides will also be on hand to answer questions. (10am – 4pm and also Friday 10 Sept)
- St Matthias Church, Malvern Link will be open with guides to answer you questions, a local food fair, history display, children's trail and a new guidebook.
- At St George’s, Kidderminster, help celebrate 200 years since the foundation stone for the church was laid with a special display and visit the coffee shop. (10am – 4pm and also Friday 17, 9.30 – 12.30)
- At St Andrew’s Church in Ombersley, there is a unique opportunity to visit the Sandys Family Mausoleum in the renovated (circa 1829) Old Chancel of the original medieval church as well as a guided walk the 'Sandys of Time' and a talk on ‘The Monarchs Way, 370 years'. (10am – 5pm and Sunday 19 Sept, 10am – 4pm)
- At St Mary and All Saints, Kidderminster, you can come and see the largest parish church in Worcestershire. Inside there several monuments and an alabaster reredos, much 19th century stained glass , a fine brass with 3 figures and the chair used by the 17th century preacher Richard Baxter (10am - 3pm)
On Saturday 11 September, church members will also take part in ‘Ride and Stride’, being sponsored to visit as many churches as possible during the day. Money raised is split between their own church and the Worcestershire and Dudley Churches Trust. Many churches will be open and offering refreshments to all visitors on this day.
