St. Margaret’s, Stanstead St. Margaret’s
This is a delightful little church in a very well cared for churchyard. However, I found it locked with no indication of how I might get in. The church website, http://www.3churches.net, offered no clues either and the ‘achurchnearyou’ entry says ‘We are an open and inclusive church, following a relaxed liturgical tradition with easy to follow service booklets.’ and, ‘we strive to keep the word of God alive in our villages.’ I was left wondering why this church was locked up? I would think that the word of God is kept much more alive by having the church open to welcome all those who want some quiet or to think something through than it is by just welcoming people in on a Sunday. This seems like a wasted opportunity to reach out to the local community.
St. Mary the Virgin, Ware
I have been continuing my exploration of the Anglican churches of Hertfordshire. I have had an enjoyable day visiting churches around Ware and Hertford. St. Mary’s is open each day. It is well worth visiting. I found a lovely welcome notice in the porch and the door was wide open. Inside this imposing town centre church I found both a free guide and a larger one to purchase. This, to my mind is a good way to do things. A casual visitor will take a free guide to help them understand what they are seeing and, if they are really interested, will then buy the larger one.
There is much to see here. A chapel is set aside for quiet and prayer and there is a votive stand to use as well as a prayer request board. The ‘Saints and Pilgrims’ book was open at the right day. This is widely used in the Diocese of St. Alban’s and gives a saint or other notable Christian for each day of the year. It is an attractive book and provides another way of interesting visitors. Mission projects are displayed and there is a children’s area at the back of the church. One thing that does catch the eye here are some very nice kneelers which portray the local street scene. These are most attractive and a bit different as well. There is also a display about the current organ restoration project which is going on. These sorts of things are often of great interest to visitors and it is worth highlighting what is going on.
The church website can be found at http://www.stmarysware.org.uk and this gives nice, clear, visitor information.
Welcome to the website of the Church Tourism Study. Here you will find details of some of the churches I have visited so far about 700 now.
The aim of this study is to gain an idea of what is being provided for the many visitors to or churches. This seems to be a growing phenomena and many churches are surprised at just how many visitors they are getting. Our Monday to Saturday congregation is often much bigger than our Sunday one but the provision churches are making for their visitors is patchy. Some are very good and some are very poor. You will find examples of all these here. I visit areas as I can scrape together some funds to do so. I am always open to visiting new areas that I haven’t yet been to, especially if you are able to offer accommodation! There is a bias towards the south of the country because of where I live.
My current project is a survey of the churches of Hertfordshire and you can find some of these entries here, not all churches I have visited are put on this site.
In addition, I have been busy sending out questionnaires to several hundred churches up and down the country. This has been providing some fascinating information about what is actually happening. All this information is being written up for a book on visitor ministry.
I hope that you enjoy looking at my reports and pictures. All opinions expressed are my own. It has never been my intention to denigrate churches but it has become obvious that many could do an awful lot better in this area. It is not hard and the benefits in ministering to our visitors are enormous.Do comment if you wish to or get in touch at nigellacey@mail.com
St. Thomas and All Saints, Lymington
This church is in Lymington High Street, a busy and attractive town helped by a warm and sunny day! The church is open each day and is well worth a visit as it is an interesting building. There are some nice, modern, glass doors as you enter by Tracey Sheppard.
I found some cards for sale and some good guide leaflets, including one on the doors. There is a prayer board to leave prayer requests on, a good children’s area and a quiet chapel. The church website (www.lymingtonchurch.org) has good visitor information on it. I couldn’t see a visitors book. This is a lovely, atmospheric church, well worth a visit. Lymington itself is a great place to wander around as well.
St. James, Shirley, Southampton
Shirley is a bustling suburb of Southampton. St. James’ church sits opposite a busy park and is on a quite busy road. I found it locked with no indication of how I might get to take a look inside. The parish office is opposite but that wasn’t open. There is nothing about visiting on the church website (www.shirleyparishchurch.org.uk), although there is a lot of other useful information there. The banner on the wall says ‘try praying’ which is a bit ironic when you can’t get inside to do so! As my school reports often said ‘could do better.’
St. Andrew’s, Farnham, Surrey
This is a church which divides opinion, at least as judged by reading the comments in the visitors book. The interior has been reordered with modern chairs and a very usable area at the west end, known as the pavilions. This has two meeting rooms, a kitchen and gallery seating.
There is a modern font, with a beaten copper bowl. A guide leaflet explains all this as well as a bigger guide. There are some nice leaflets for those who are grieving, on pilgrimage, and for times when we need help when anxious. These are very good. As well as a trail for children of all ages. A votive stand is there to be used.
There are lots of entries in the visitors book – some love it and some hate it! It is worth visiting to read these- go and see for yourself. I rather like it myself. The parish website is at http://standrewsfarnham.org/ and has clear visitor information.
Holy Trinity, Bosham
A favourite church in a favourite village. This is a lovely church, well worth visiting. The church is open each day. There are some good guides available, a walk round guide to Bosham (beautifully illustrated with line drawings), a ‘Walk Round Guide to Holy Trinity Church Bosham’ as well as one on the tapestry on the altar frontal as well as some post cards and notelets for sale. There is a good welcome sign inside the church. 96 visitors had signed the book in March – this number doesn’t reflect the true number I am sure as several people came in whilst I was there. One thing I liked is a folder entitled ‘The Men behind the names’ which has details of both WW 1 and 2 casualties from the village. An interesting church that is well worth visiting. The website is at http://boshamchurch.org.uk/ this has good visitor information and is a well thought out and informative site.
St. Mary & St. Blaise, Boxgrove Priory
Boxgrove Priory is well sign posted off the main road. The website is at http://www.boxgrovepriory.co.uk/ and starts with the statement that the church is open every day – very commendable.
This is a most interesting church to visit with much to hold a visitors attention. Inside, the floor at the west end features a lovely labyrinth – there is an illustrated leaflet which explains this and gives prayer idea.
There are some children’s books, postcards and choir CD’s for sale. Also some ‘Visitors Notes’ and laminated ‘bats’ to carry around. There is a children’s guide too (all too rare). 23 people had signed the visitor’s book in March.
There is a chantry chapel which is used for prayer. Here is a picture of it-
Some lights were left on in the church. This is a most enjoyable church to visit.
St. Bartholomew’s, Brighton
A famous church nearby to the railway station. It is open each day with a very clear welcome sign outside and the door was open. It is a church with a great atmosphere helped by the organist practising, which was very good. There was another friendly steward. St. Bartholomew’s has an aura which is steeped in sanctity and piety. There is a history display and several votive stands but no where to leave a prayer request. Some tourist information is available as well as various guide leaflets and some Catholic Truth Society leaflets on prayer and the Blessed Sacrament. Also there was a good leaflet entitled, ‘Pray the Way of the Cross’. The church website can be found at http://www.stbartholomewsbrighton.org.uk This clearly states that the church is open each day 10am – 1pm and 2pm – 4.30pm. St. Bartholmew’s is well worth a visit.
St. Paul’s, Brighton
A visit to the South Coast gave me a chance to visit a few churches around there. Brighton was described by, I think John Betjeman, as the home of ‘London, Brighton and South Coast religion.’
I found St. Paul’s open. The entrance is down a type of cloister which features displays about the church on the walls. Inside, I found a friendly steward, a free guide and various others. A small stall sells booklets, cards, rosaries etc. It is a lovely church with some nice stations of the cross and a confessional (a rare sight in an Anglican church). There is also a prayer board where prayer requests can be left, as well as several votive stands. This church is in a busy location and gets lots of visitors. I counted 59 entries in the visitors book for 29th March only! It is a church well worth a visit.
The church website is at http://www.saintpaulschurch.org.uk/ the church is open each day.
churchtourismstudy 