A BROMSGROVE church will be welcoming visitors for a host of activites and events as it celebrates Heritage Open Days.
The return of St John’s Cake and Coffee Concerts will mark the church’s first activity of its heritage celebrations.
Cake and Coffee Concert ‘Delightful Duets’ starts off the day at 10.30am tomorrow (Saturday, September 14) with local musicians Alastair Moseley and Steve Cowperthwaite performing solo sand duets for piano and organ.
After the concert visitors are invited to indulge in homemade cakes alongside a drink and a chat with fellow attendees before taking a look around the building and exploring the churchyard.
The bell tower will be opened next as STEM Ambassadors and Avoncroft Museum join Friends of Heritage Open Days from 12 noon to 2pm.
Visitors are encouraged to climb 50 steps on the spiral staircase to the Bell Chamber to learn about bellringing and have a go themselves. A further 50 are needed to reach the tower battlements to admire far-reaching views across Bromsgrove.
Crafts, church model and treasure hunt
Inside the ancient building visitors will be inspired with heritage information and “make and take” crafts. Avoncroft Museum’s team will be hosting a timber framed house and clay brick making workshop.
A STEM Ambassador will be assembling a model of the church with visitors able to learn how the church, which boasts Worcestershire’s tallest spire, was built
Attendees can also explore outside on a treasure hunt and search for the vicar’s keys, or have a go on and look inside the church organ as well as have a chat with the church historian.
Everyone is welcomed at St John’s for these free to attend events. Heritage Open Day at St John’s has received £1,855 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
It takes place during Heritage Open Days (September 6 to 15 )and is supported by Bromsgrove District Council through the ReNEW (rediscover North East Worcestershire) scheme.
Worcestershire and Dudley Historic Churches Trust’s Ride and Stride event also kicks off on the same day. St John’s (9.30am to 3.30pm) is involved alongside Christ Church, Catshill (10am to 4pm), St Mary’s, Hanbury (8am to 5pm)and St Michael and All Angels, Stoke Prior (10am to 4pm).
Participants are sponsored to walk, run, cycle, ride or even drive to as many churches as possible during the day.
Funds raised are split 50-50 between the Historic Churches Trust to support work preserving places of worship within the trust’s area, and a church of the participant’s choice.
Visit: rideandstrideworcs.org and heritageopendays.org.uk/ for more information. Please note the weather conditions will impact on both bellringing and access to St John’s tower top parapet.
