Heritage Open Days is England's largest festival of history and culture, bringing together over 2,500 organisations, 5,000 events and 40,000 volunteers. Every year for four days in September, places across the country throw open their doors to celebrate their heritage, community and history.
The Heritage Open Days of 2018 have been taking place throughout the month of Sepember. It was a fantastic opportunity to use the heritage and stories of church buildings as an invitation to people who might never otherwise come through the doors. This year parishes in the Diocese of Leeds did everything from guided tours, to children’s workshops, to giving people a chance to ‘have a go’ on the organ. Take a look at the pictures below showing what some churches did to take part in this years Heritage Open Days. There are also reports attached explaining what some churches did to celebrate their heritage.
Thornhill Parish Church, St Michael and All Angels in Dewsbury
This year they had the Dewsbury Greats exhibition - provided by Kirklees Museums in association with the Dewsbury Reporter. At the church they featured celebrities form Sport and highlighted
three famous women.
Keighley Shared Church
This year they took a more active and thematic approach with information relating to occasional offices, regular services and some history of the Methodist/Anglican LEP.
St. John's, Farsley
A Heritage Open Day was also organised and run by Friends of St. John's and it showcased the history of Farsley. A picture (below and right) shows the display that was set up in the Church.
St Oswald's Methley with Mickletown
Grade 1 listed church, St Oswald's Methley with Mickletown, was open for the 8th and 9th September. This year the theme was Methley's Mining Heritage. The village Archive Group provided a superbly mounted display of photographs and documents and memorabilia, on loan from the National Mining Museum, was brought these to life.