Norwich Diocesan Board of finance

With the highest concentration of medieval churches in the world, many of the 150 in the Programme area are both under-utilised and inaccessible, and the project aimed to open up 50 medieval churches so that they can become community resources and more part of the general tourism of the area. The project involved recruiting a project officer to set up and support a network of contacts (clergy, churchwardens, Church Councils, district and parish councils, tourism offices, local history and heritage groups). Churches have been encouraged to participate in the project, with each recruiting a few volunteers who are available to open the churches and act as guides for visitors. These volunteers have been trained to produce leaflets and displays, and act as guides. Links have been made with the Local Education Authority (Children Services) to produce an education pack and to hold events and activities for schoolchildren.  The project works with other organisations in the Broads and Rivers area of Norfolk order to create packages that include the promotion of walks and cycle tracks and other places of interest so that people visit churches during outing days. The project identified nine key churches as gateway churches. These are located in areas that are popular with tourists and visitors and in some instances a nearby staithe offers excellent access from the Broads and main rivers.  They are places where a warm welcome is guaranteed and in some instances light refreshments/toilet facilities are available.

This was a three year project, that intended to result in :

• 50 Churches actively participating
• 50 Churches with teams of 5 volunteers each
• 60 Courses for 20 volunteers to learn new skills in guiding, leaflet production etc.
• 5 Churches offering 2 formal events per year
• Production of leaflets in 50 churches
• Preparation of 25 interpretive information boards
• A comprehensive web site

Grant Awarded

Broads and Rivers LEADER+ provided £60, 000 towards total project costs of £85,000. Additional match funding has been provided by the Diocese of Norwich and from individual church funds.

More Information on Open Churches:

Contact:

Jennie Hawks
Project Officer
Norfolk Broads and Rivers Open Churches Project
Email: jenniehawks@norwich.anglican.org