Hundreds of places of worship across our diocese and the wider region are gearing up to welcome visitors for Yorkshire Churches Day, taking place on Saturday, September 14.
Yorkshire’s churches are treasure troves full of amazing history and heritage and Yorkshire Churches Day is a chance encourage visitors both new and old to discover what’s behind their doors.
Churches from all corners of the County will be opening up, offering tours, refreshments, music, exhibitions and treasure hunts for visitors to enjoy.
Many are joining together to put on trails between a number of churches for those looking for a fun day out.
The event is organised by the Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust, which gives grants for the repair, maintenance and restoration of places of worship across the region.
The Rt Revd Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds, said of the event: “I encourage all churches to participate in this great initiative.
“Church buildings are not just buildings, but places of worship, community, history, education, contemplation, and so on.
“They tell a story of previous generations and the life of these places that has changes so much over the years.
“I used to walk and cycle on this day when I was a vicar in Leicestershire, taking a group of people with me.
“Please engage with it and take your family and friends for a day out.”
In our diocese, many churches will be taking part.
All Saints, Pontefract will be open on the day with Tower Tours, bell ringing demonstrations, an Open Day for their famous ‘Double Helix Staircase’ and refreshments.
In the Huddersfield area several churches are joining together to run a Yorkshire Churches Day Circular Walk, discovering quiet routes connecting churches.
The 5 mile guided heritage walk will go between four Anglican churches, starting and ending at St Stephen's Lindley, and visiting St John’s Birkby, St Cuthbert’s Birkby, and St Philip’s Birchencliffe via green routes.
The event has also been warmly welcomed by the Most Revd Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York and President of the YHCT: “Yorkshire Churches Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our county’s churches.
“At the heart of nearly every one of our communities is a church.
“They are there to serve and welcome everyone.
“However you choose to engage with these wonderful buildings, remember, they are not merely places of heritage and history, but vibrant centres of worship and community serving Yorkshire today.”
Full details of the event, including a comprehensive list of churches opening up and the trails that are being developed, can be found at the YHCT website.
YCD is being run in conjunction with the Heritage Open Days initiative, with numerous places of worship opening up for the duration of the festival from Friday, September 6 to Sunday, September 15.