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History combines with tourism to open up Notts churches Church reps from across Nottinghamshire will celebrate a number of milestones this week - all linked with making churches more accessible to visitors. The Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham’s Church History project will be marking the 100th church to have its full history researched and published on the Church History website at a celebration event in the Great Hall at Southwell on Thursday, 17th March 2011. The Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham, the Rt Revd Paul Butler will unveil the 100th church entry to guests and volunteers connected with the project at a reception at 5pm. He will be joined by other people who were instrumental in setting up the project including Professor John Beckett, from the University of Nottingham. PHOTO opportunity: There will be an opportunity for photos with Bishop Paul and other key people from the project at the Great Hall in Southwell at 4.45pm on Thursday 17th March. In addition to marking the project’s milestone, a new tourist leaflet will be launched, called: ‘Nottinghamshire Churches Medieval Stained Glass Trail’. The colourful leaflet, which will be available in tourism centres around the county, will offer a guided route round seven churches, with some of the oldest stained glass in the county. Church History Project Coordinator, Heather Sirrel said: “We’re looking forward to sharing all that has been happening in the past few years and the developments that have been made with the help of our Heritage Lottery funding. It’s an exciting project linking the past, present and future, which wouldn’t be possible without the team of volunteers and supporters. Thursday’s celebration is also an opportunity to thank them all for their hard work.” The event will also include information about the open churches sections of the Church History Project, including tourism and education projects and the two Open Church weekends planned for July 2011. Invited guests will have a chance to spend time in the ancient walled garden and remains of the Archbishop’s Palace at Bishop’s Manor, before the celebration begins. For details on the Church History website and Open Churches see: http://southwellchurches.nottingham.ac.uk http://www.nottsopenchurches.org.uk/ ends |
