Heritage Open Days return this year from 11 to 20 September, offering free opportunities to discover the history, heritage and culture found across the country. With plenty of events happening throughout Gloucestershire, here are some of the ways local churches are opening their doors and joining in.
Gloucester
Gloucester Cathedral, 12 College Green, Gloucester, GL1 2LX
Gloucester Cathedral precincts tour, 1 hour
A walking tour of Gloucester Cathedral precincts, giving a history of the area surrounding the Cathedral from the earliest Minster church up to the most recent developments.
Dates and times:
Friday 11 September at 11am
Saturday 12 September at 2.30pm
Details:
Pre-booking not required.
The Stonemasons’ Workshop
Gloucester Cathedral is one of just a small number of cathedrals in the country to have its own stonemasons’ workshop on site. Visitors can watch carving demonstrations and discover how the skilled team helps preserve, repair and restore this historic building.
Date and time:
Saturday 12 September, from 10am to 3pm
Details:
This is a drop-in, and no booking is required.
Gloucester Cathedral Learning and Participation Hub at St Mary’s Gate
St Mary’s Gate was originally the entrance to St Peter’s Abbey, where alms were distributed to those in need. Today, it is home to the Cathedral’s Learning and Participation team. Visitors will have the chance to explore historic features, including the original alms hole and the upper room where, in 1555, the Dean and Chapter are believed to have watched Bishop Hooper being burned at the stake outside.
Date and time:
Saturday 12 September, from 11am to 3pm
Details:
This is a drop in, no booking required. Not suitable for wheelchairs.
St Mary de Crypt Church, Southgate Street, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GL1 1TP
Talk about The Sanctuary Project: What we know about the wall paintings to date, 40 minutes
Discover the wall paintings in the church’s Sanctuary, including the important Tudor artwork ‘The Adoration of the Magi’. Recent research has also revealed possible medieval paintings depicting six human figures beneath a damaged later painting, which could be of national significance. Join Hellen O’Connor to learn more about these remarkable discoveries and what researchers have uncovered so far.
Date and time:
Friday 11 September, 2.30pm
Details:
Pre-booking not required.
Baroque music from the 17th and 18th centuries, 45 minutes
Theoc Baroque returns to Gloucester Heritage Open Days with a programme of beautiful vocal and instrumental music from the Baroque period. The ensemble will perform devotional works by composers including Buxtehude, Allegri, Monteverdi and Charpentier, featuring voices accompanied by organ and theorbo.
Date and time:
Friday 11 September, 3.15pm
Details:
Pre-booking not required.
St Nicholas’s Church, Westgate Street, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GL1 2PG
Hear the music of the Waites of Gloucester, 30 to 45 minutes
Step back in time with the music of the Waites of Gloucester, a group who performed in the city from the Elizabethan period into the reign of James II. Their modern counterparts recreate the sounds of the 16th and 17th centuries using reproduction instruments including shawms, curtals and recorders.
Date and time:
Friday 11 September, 11am
Details:
Pre-booking not required. There are a few steps at the entrance. Access is via the back door of church. There are toilets and refreshments at The Folk of Gloucester opposite the church.
Cheltenham
St Stephen’s Church, St Stephen’s Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL51 3AD
Guided tour of St Stephen’s with local historians, 40 minutes
Discover the heritage of Grade II listed St Stephen’s Church, designed by renowned local architect John Middleton and described as the most complete example of his work. Originally built as a chapel of ease for Christchurch, Tivoli, the church features a magnificent Apostles frieze and a fine early 20th-century Norman and Beard organ.
Join one of three free immersive guided tours, led by local historians, and hear fascinating stories about the building, its architecture and the people and events that have shaped its history.
Date and times:
Monday 14 September, tours from 11am, 1pm and 3pm
Details:
No advance booking is required.
Christ Church, Malvern Road, Cheltenham, GL50 2JH
Cheltenham Christian Arts: 10 year retrospective and new work art exhibition at The Hub Gallery
A celebration of ten years of visual arts, music, drama and storytelling, from 2016 to 2026. Everyone is welcome.
The celebration launch is on Friday 11 September, from 5pm to 7pm, serving Hema’s Kitchen Indian Food. All are welcome.
Dates and times:
Friday 11 September to Sunday 20 September, 10am to 4pm
Details:
No advance booking is required.
A stained glass window tour with Andrew Judge
Christ Church has eight beautiful stained-glass windows depicting biblical scenes from the New Testament.
A short concert with organist Gordon Busbridge and Director of Music, Tim Ingold with the Choir of Christ Church. The concert features items by Handel, Wesley, Wood, Tallis and others. Followed by refreshments.
Date and time:
Sunday 20 September, 3pm
Details:
Pre-booking not required. Refreshments included after the concert.
St Luke’s Church, St Lukes Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL53 7JJ
Explore St Luke’s and its hidden clock tower
Explore the Gothic Revival architecture of St Luke’s Church on a guided tour of its galleries and Victorian clock tower, reached via a hidden spiral staircase. Designed by F.W. Ordish and consecrated in 1854, the church is home to striking stained glass, mosaics, wood carvings and relics from the demolished St John’s Church. Visitors can also see the artist-in-residence’s studio and an illustrated display remembering local men who served in the First World War.
The guided tours include the clock tower containing a Victorian turret clock available to view for those who are fit to manage 50 steps of the spiral staircase. There will be an illustrated display providing information on the men of the parish who served in WWI projected on the two large screens in the front of the church.
Date and times:
Saturday 19 September, 12pm to 5pm. Tours are from 12.15pm to 1pm and 2.15pm to 3pm
Details:
Pre-booking is preferred and booking closes on 18 September. To book, please text or email Sylvia Lauder at 07816749947 or at sylvia.a.lauder@gmail.com.
There are two or three steps in various parts of the church. There are steep stairs to galleries and narrow spiral staircase to the clock tower but there are handrails for those joining the guided tours.
Talks and afternoon tea
Two talks will take place on Wednesday, 16 September, exploring the experiences of Cheltenham women during WWI and the life of Catherine Parr. Afternoon tea will be served between the two talks.
Date and times:
Wednesday 16 September, from 12pm to 5pm. Talks are at 2pm, followed by afternoon tea. and 3.30pm, followed by afternoon tea.
Details:
No pre-booking required.
Forest of Dean
St Ethelbert’s Church, Church Street, Littledean, Cinderford, Gloucestershire, GL14 3NL
Discover the history of bellringing at St Ethelbert’s
Explore the history of bellringing at this beautiful Grade I listed church, with photographs showing the bells, past repairs and generations of bellringers. Visitors can take a tour of the tower, get a closer look at the bells and, hopefully, see them being rung. Refreshments will also be available.
Date and time:
Saturday 12 September, 10am to 4pm
Details:
Pre-booking is not required. Parking is available opposite at the primary school, please take care crossing the road. Ramp access is available to main body of church. The bell tower is only accessible by a narrow ladder.
Wotton Deanery
St Marys Church, Castle Street, Thornbury, Bristol, Gloucestershire, BS35 1HQ
Tower tours at St Mary’s Church, Thornbury
Explore the rich heritage of St Mary’s Church in Thornbury and climb its 133 uneven steps on a guided tower tour. At the top, visitors can enjoy spectacular views across the River Severn and surrounding countryside, while learning more about the church bells and ringing room. Tower tours are subject to good weather.
Visitors can also enjoy refreshments and homemade cake, browse a Mothers’ Union stall, and take part in the Ride and Stride event in support of the Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust.
Date and times:
Saturday 12 September, tours at 1.30pm, 1.50pm, 2.10pm, 2.30pm, 2.50pm, 3.20pm, 3.45pm, 4.10pm and 4.30pm.
Details:
Booking is essential, and the climb is not suitable for children under eight or wheelchair users.
Booking conditions: Please arrive on time. Due to the narrow nature of the stairs groups are scheduled so that no one gets stuck up the tower for too long. If you miss your slot we will try our best to fit you in on the next group but this may mean a wait and is not a guarantee.
Tewkesbury Abbey, Church Street, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, GL20 5RZ
Knitted monks display at Tewkesbury Abbey
See an exhibition of knitted medieval monks created to celebrate the 900th anniversary of Tewkesbury Abbey’s consecration in 2021.
The project brought together knitters from the parish, congregation and wider community, who took on the challenge of creating 900 monks. This year, some of the collection returns to the Abbey, depicting the different roles of medieval monks, from caring for guests to working in the scriptorium and helping to build the Abbey.
Dates and times:
Friday 11 September to Sunday 20 September, 9.30am to 4pm. On Sunday 13 and 20 September, it is from 12.30pm to 4pm.
Details:
Pre-booking not required.
Apotropaic marks tour at Tewkesbury Abbey, 1 hour
Explore Tewkesbury Abbey from a different perspective by discovering the apotropaic, or evil-averting, marks hidden throughout the building. The tour includes areas not usually accessible to visitors, including the south stairs and lantern chamber. Led by historian and author Brian Hoggard, the tour offers a fascinating insight into the beliefs and practices once used to protect people and buildings from evil.
Date and times:
Saturday 19 September, 11am, 1pm and 3pm
Details:
The tour will involve moving around the abbey and climbing spiral staircases to some of the upper rooms. Please ensure you are physically able to climb the stairs before booking on. Please note that whilst dogs are allowed in the Abbey, they will not be able to attend this tour.
Step back into medieval Tewkesbury and discover the lost buildings and features of the monastery precincts on a guided tour with Dr Ellie March. Learn about the Benedictine monks who lived at Tewkesbury Abbey, the buildings that disappeared following the Dissolution, and what daily life was like in the medieval monastery.
Tombs, trees and tributes at Tewkesbury Abbey, 1 hour
Enjoy a summer afternoon exploring the grounds of Tewkesbury Abbey on a tour uncovering the history of its churchyard. Discover ancient yew trees, fascinating tombs and memorials, and the stories behind the people and tributes found throughout this historic setting.
Date and time:
Saturday 19 September, 4pm
Details:
The tour will involve moving around the abbey churchyard, which has uneven surfaces. Maximum number of people is 15.
These are just some of the events our churches are doing – for all the events around Gloucestershire and the diocese, visit the Heritage Open Days events page.
News Hub
