The Church Tourism Study
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. Michael’s, Lewes
At the top of Lewes High Street can be found St.Michael’s church. It is open each day. There is a real sense of both history and holiness here. There is a guide booklet and a very good prayer leaflet. I also found some information about Taize. On looking at the visitors book I found 16 entries for November. There is a prayer box and a votive stand, which was well used. A light had been left on in the chancel. The church website is at http://www.stmichaelinlewes.org.uk and this is pleased to say that the church is open. Both St. Michael’s and the town are well worth a visit.
St. Mary Magdalene, Wartling
Sussex has some wonderful churches, which would be worth studying in some detail. I have only had chance to sample a few. I drove past this lovely little church and just had to stop and go in. It was worth doing so. The notice board outside says that it is open each day. On entering, some lights come on. Some 94 entries had been made in the visitors book this year. There is a guide book available and a simple prayer area with prayer suggestions to use. The church features a wonderful lectern, with an open lectionary on it. There is a website at http://www.hmcw.org.uk but this has no visitor information on it. The entry on ‘a church near you’ is less reticent and is clear that the church is open.
Christchurch, Eastbourne
This is a church that I have wanted to visit for a while. It is on a busy road – Seaside and is open each day.Inside, there was some maintenance work going on so it was a bit untidy but there was much of interest here. There is a good good, available for a donation, a prayer box for prayer requests, a votive stand and a quiet chapel. The sacrament is reserved here. The website (at http://www.ccwithsp.org) has no specific visitor information but it is implied! You will have to look to see what I mean. A good church to visit.
King Charles the Martyr, Tunbridge Wells
I was able to visit the very pleasant town of Tunbridge Wells. This church sits right by the side of the road through the town and is open each day. It is well worth a visit too. The church is stewarded and these were friendly and knowledgeable. There are some multi lingual laminated sheets to guide the visitor and various guide books, mugs and local history booklets for sale as well. There were lots of visitors in the book but I didn’t count them. The stewards told me that they get a lot of visitors and many locals just come in to sit quietly – what a church is for really!
There is a nice prayer and contemplation area to use. This is an unusual and interesting church with a fascinating history. The website is at http://www.kcmtw.org and this is very clear on visitors.
St. Mary’s, Hitchin
Hitchin was busy and it was good to find St. Mary’s open as it sits in the heart of the town. There was a charity christmas card stall set up in the church. There is a guide book and one on the organ and several others, some in different languages. A welcome leaflet is available as well. Also, a very rare children’s guide (which is very good)- I wish that more churches would consider younger visitors. Also some cards which make up into a model of the church.
There is a lot to see here. The Trinity Chapel is set aside for quiet prayer and is a nice area. The Blessed Sacrament is reserved here. A ‘Who’s who’ of church people is displayed and one on a link with Malawi – it is always good to show that a church is much more than a historic building and is a living, caring, community. The website is at http://www.stmaryshitchin.co.uk and this clearly states that the church is open each day. I rate St. Mary’s as very good for this study.
St. Ippolyts, St. Ippolyts
A church with a wonderful name! – this comes from St. Hippolytus, the 3rd century Roman theologian. The church is open. Inside, I found a history folder, a welcome leaflet – which is well done. There is also a good leaflet of walks around the parish. Some notelets are also for sale. ‘Saints and Pilgrims’ is on display and there is a children’s area. The organ was being tuned at the time of my visit which was interesting. Under the tower is a display about bell ringing – the first I have seen. There are always no things to discover.
A prayer board can be used also. The church website is at http://www.stippolytschurch.org.uk but this has no visitor information on it which is a shame as otherwise this is a good church from the point of view of this study. It is well worth a visit.
St. Mary the Virgin, Little Wymondley
St. Mary’s is well singed off the road through the village. It is beside a busy railway line but is a well kept and peaceful church inside. It is very well kept. Inside I found a folder of interesting old pictures of the church as well as the usual ‘Saints and Pilgrims’ book. There were 38 entries in the visitors book so far this year. Some preserves and notelets were on sale.
There doesn’t seem to be a website but there is an entry on a church near you but this has no visitor information.
St. George’s, Letchworth
I have been past this church lots of times as it is beside the A505 a road I have travelled many times. It is unfortunately locked and there is no indication of when, or if, it is ever open outside service times. What makes this worse is the sign outside ‘Hello again. You’re always welcome here.’ – not born out by the building. Is this meant to be ironic?
There is a website at stpaulsletchworth.co.uk but this has no visitor information. Could do better!
St. George’s, Letchworth
In church circles it common that modern buildings are derided. Sometimes this is justified as, especially more recent ones, can be utilitarian duel purpose buildings which does impose a lot of constraints and also there is a need to keep costs down. Some modern churches are stunning though. St. George’s is one such. It is striking outside but even better inside. It was built in 1964 and is light and well cared for. Ever more, it was open which is good. There is no guide or place to leave prayers nor a visitors book. This is a shame as there is a lot of potential here. There is a small chapel where the blessed sacrament is reserved which makes a good place for quiet and prayer. The website is at parishofnorton.org.uk but it has no visitor information on it. Could do better but well worth seeing!
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