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 9 – 18 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.
St Laurence, Alvechurch will be open from 10am until 5pm on Saturday 10 September. The programme of events will include bellringers, school choir, storytelling, yoga demo, sound bath demo, teddy bear parachuting, morris dancers, model railway, community art installation, community choir, refreshments - including barbeque, beers and cakes. The event will conclude with Pimm's and hymns starting at 4pm
At St Michael’s Church, Brierley Hill on Saturday 17 September there will be lots of activities for all ages. You can tour Brierley Hill’s oldest building, which is over 250 years old and view the beautiful historic stained-glass windows: can you spot all the animals? How many angels can you count? Learn about the church’s historic bells and have a go on the 150-year-old Whitechapel handbells (from the same company that made Big Ben).
St John’s Church, Brockhill will be open Saturday 10 September, 10am – 2pm with a chance to view a Grade 2 listed building and chat to the knowledgeable church warden about the building and its history.
At All Saints, Bromsgrove on Saturday 10 & Sunday 11 September, you will be able to see inside the church and enjoy the special exhibition of documents, pictures and records about Bromsgrove nailers, Bromsgrove Workhouse and Davenal House, all with connections to All Saints.
St John's Church in Bromsgrove will be open on Saturday 17 September for a free cake and coffee concert at 10.30am followed by an open day with a chance to have a go on the organ and climb the bell tower. Other activities will be available inside the church.
Visit Grade 2 listed Christ Church, Catshill on 10, 11 and 13 September to see the beautiful stained-glass windows and enjoy a flower festival, craft stall and refreshments.
At St Peter’s Church in Cradley you can trace your ancestors with local history experts, climb the tower to learn about the bells, bring your Teddy Bear to parachute off the tower and enjoy homemade refreshments on Saturday 17 September, from 10am. The day will finish with a free organ concert using a big screen!
Take a tour around St James’ Church, Eve Hill, Dudley with full access to the church, churchyard and crypt and activities for children. Saturday 10 September.
Visit historic Top Church in the heart of Dudley and step back in time to the 1920s. Meet Sir George Bean and his son Jack and learn about the height of car manufacturing in Dudley. Saturday 10 September, 10am – 2pm. With craft activities and face painting for children, and a return of the ever-popular crypt tours.
St Edmund King and Martyr in Dudley will be open on Saturday 10 September, 10am – 2pm with a chance to visit the oldest church in Dudley, rebuilt in 1724 on a religious site dating back over 1,000 years.
At The Church of St Augustine of Hippo, Holly Hall, Dudley on Saturday 10 September you can view birth marriage and burial registers, see a display of church vestments and look at the Florence Camm stained glass windows. There will be a scavenger hunt for all ages and other activities for children.
At St Mary’s Church and Guarlford Village Hall will be an exhibition “Through All The Changing Scenes Of Life”, showing rural life through a historical context. Open 10, 11, 13, 14 & 15 September. There will also be a trail around the church and churchyard and a chance to join 'Songs of Praise' in the church at 3pm on Sunday 11 September.
St Mary’s Church in Hanley Castle will be open 2 – 5pm on 9 – 18 September with an exhibition of the many and various tools which may have been used by the tradespeople of Hanley Castle over 100 years ago. The 1911 Census shows that the residents of Hanley Castle were engaged in a wide variety of trades and professions. This exhibition seeks to showcase some of the tools they may have used and highlight the inventions that made a difference to their everyday working lives.
At Hampton Lovett Church on Saturday 10 September, visitors will be explore the church's heritage and discover the connection between Hampton Lovett and at least two breakthrough inventions – the story of HMS Warrior and the transformation of paper making in the UK.
St Mary & All Saints in Kidderminster will be open on Saturday 17 September from 10am to 2pm. This Grade 1 listed building overlooking the town & canal is the longest parish church in the county . It has a fine collection of 19th & 20th century stained glass and also several 15th century carved monuments. Come and climb the 86ft high tower to see spectacular views across the town and far beyond. Light refreshments will be served
In the parish of Malvern Link with Cowleigh, there will be display in St Matthias featuring local inventions with churchyard trails available for both the very young and anyone older and the Church of the Ascension will be open all week and stewarded on the Saturdays. The church is an outstanding example of late Arts and Crafts architecture; dedicated in 1903, it was designed by Sir Walter Tapper. Saturday 11 & 17 September 11am – 4pm.
At St Andrew, Ombersley there is a chance to visit the Sandys Mausoleum created from a medieval chancel and admire the recently repaired windows on 16, 17 & 18 September.
At St Peter’s Church, Pedmore on 10 & 11 September there will be displays of items that were made locally, which gave employment to both men and women.
At St Peter’s Church, Pirton, visitors will be able to explore the construction of an 18th century turret clock which following restoration operates with the assistance of automatic winding units and summer and winter time regulations. The clock in the tower of St Peter's Church, Pirton is believed to be the workmanship of the Steight family and is one of two known to still be operational in local churches. 9 – 11 September, 10am – 5pm.
Discover St Peter’s Church in Powick on 12, 13 and 15 September, 11am – 4.30pm, with guided tours (including information about the civil war), children's activities and refreshments.
Ripple Church will be open from 10am – 4pm from 9 – 18 September. The church has an intriguing and amusing set of carved misericords featuring country pursuits at different times of the year, which are reputed to be the best set of misericords in the country.
St Stephen’s Church in Redditch will be open 10am – 4pm on Saturday 17 September at which you can find out more about the story of the church, view historic photographs of the choir from the archives, take a tour of the tallest tower in Redditch, and see the bells. There will also be an Eco Church activity or two for children and a chance to see the children's garden tended by our Young Bellringers Group and growing flowers and veg.
Discover St. Michael & All Angels Church, Stoke Prior on 17 & 18 September, exploring the local heritage through talks, various displays and photographs. The Bell Tower will be open to visitors to explore and there will be a talk by local historian, Andrew Harris.
All Saints Church in Wilden will be open from 10am – 2pm on Saturday 10 & 17 September. This is a Victorian church commissioned by Alfred Baldwin, father of former PM, Stanley Baldwin and contains 14 Burne-Jones windows and other Arts and Crafts treasures.
All Saints Church, Wribbenhall, Bewdley: On Saturday 17 September, visit the church and take part in a quiz to guess the hymn pictured in each of the church’s stained-glass windows. There is also the chance find out more about the history of the church and its plans for the future.
