Tracey Akehurst has been appointed as the new Church History Project Manager, in a part-time post funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Tracey will begin work on 20th April  2009 and will also continue her part-time work as an administrator for the village churches of Gonalston, Epperstone, Oxton and Woodborough.

She said: “I think this post has huge potential. It is something that doesn’t exist anywhere else and it is a great opportunity, being able to set something up from scratch and take it on right from the very beginning. I hope to be able to help churches raise their profile for tourism and open people’s eyes to all that they have to offer in terms of education and tourism.”

The new post is to coordinate the Church History Project for the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham, by drawing together staff and volunteers and developing and promoting the project’s resources for schools and communities. The Church History Project aims to compile a historical record of every parish church/church site in the county. Local volunteers help research the information which is put up on the website – currently more than 70 churches have pages with information on them.

Nick Harding, Chair of the Church History Project Group and Children’s Ministry Adviser for the diocese, said: “We are delighted that Tracey will be joining the Church History Project. She has experience of many of the things we are doing including heritage, writing, and project management. I am looking forward to the project helping churches celebrate their heritage, and share this with children, young people and adults through education and tourism.”

Tracey, came to live in Nottinghamshire in 1992. Originally from Essex, she graduated from King’s College London with a degree in Botany and Zoology and went to work in the pharmaceutical industry. After some time spent liaising with publishers and advertisers at the Times Education Supplement, she went back into plant research before the birth of her eldest child. Tracey is married to Paul, who is an energy consultant and they have two children Jack (17) and Ellen (15). The couple is actively involved in Oxton Church where they have led youth work for a number of years. Tracey also edits the parish magazine – the Woodborough Newsletter.

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