Norfolk & Waveney Open Churches Week 2009, Saturday, August 1 to Sunday, August 9, features more than 200 historic churches across the county, running a packed programme of special events and activities.

The week gets off to a ‘roaring’ start with an Ecclesiastical Car Rally on Saturday, August 1. The rally begins at Norwich Cathedral and heads to the beautiful and ancient village of Castle Acre, via country lanes and churches en route. The oldest cars are a Bentley Drophead Coupé and a Humber Snipe (both 1930) and the youngest a Morgan Roadster 2007. Some 62 cars of all shapes and sizes are taking part. The Right Reverend Graham James, Lord Bishop of Norwich will officially start the rally at 9.30am in the Cathedral Close.

Archdeacon Martin Gray, former Archdeacon of Lynn will be entering his 1980 Porsche 911 SC Targa in the rally: “Last year’s rally was a lot of fun. The start at Norwich Cathedral was excellent with all the cars lined up together. I much enjoyed driving from church to church, exploring wonderful Norfolk Broads churches. This year we will be going to a different group of churches as we head to Castle Acre. I am sure we will have an equally memorable day.”

Full details of Open Churches week are at www.norwich.anglican.org; pick up the Open Churches booklet at TICs, libraries and churches throughout Norfolk, or contact Jennie Hawks on 01379 677843, email [email protected].

Some churches are opening during Open Churches Week for the first time: St Andrew, North Burlingham (open Sunday, August 2, 10am to 6pm), Sacred Space in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kings Lynn (open daily 8am to 9.30pm) and Trinity URC Church, Unthank Road, Norwich (open Sunday, August 2, 1pm to 4pm, Monday, August 3 and Wednesday, August 5, 11am to 3pm and Friday, August 7, 10.30am to 3.30pm).

Others like St Mary’s Fishley near Acle and St Michael’s Barton Turf are back for more, having found Open Churches Week a wonderful opportunity to welcome new visitors with special events.

St Mary’s Fishley, an isolated Saxon Church across the fields from Acle, will be staging a Flower Festival, co-ordinated by Church Warden Chloe Ecclestone, running throughout Open Churches Week (daily 10am to 4pm). The Flower Festival theme is ‘Weddings’ – each of the displays will mark a wedding anniversary e.g. ruby and golden. There were only 17 wedding ceremonies at Fishley between 1860 and 2006 (the wedding register dates from 1835). But in the last three years there have been seven weddings plus a blessing and a christening.

“We are actively encouraging weddings at the church,” said Church Warden, Ivan Barnard. “We have had more in the last three years than in the previous 50. We are also very keen on Open Churches Week. Fishley is a beautiful Saxon Church, but very isolated. Last year we had 293 visitors during the week and raised £400 through donations. We are looking forward to an even busier week this August.”

Barton Turf is inviting visitors to ‘Celebrate the Nature of the Broads’ on Saturday, August 8, from 10am to 5pm, with craft and science activities for all the family including a nature trail. The church tower will also be open. The event is supported by the Broads Authority, The Wherry Charter Trust and Norfolk Wildlife Trust. Admission free but donations welcome.

Tina Clinch, Barton Turf PCC said: “St Michael and All Angels Barton Turf is delighted to participate in Open Churches week. We hope it enables people unfamiliar with the church to enjoy its serenity and its splendid 15th century Rood Screen and West Window. We look forward to welcoming new visitors to our church.”

The Griffon Area Partnership (North Walsham) is organising a series of art and craft workshops at churches in the area during Open Churches Week. The Griffon Country Landmarks Project – Heritage Workshops are supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

St Mary the Virgin, Erpingham hosts a church conservation presentation with Stefan Ganther at 2pm on Wednesday, August 5. Maz Jackson will be at St Nicholas Church, North Walsham demonstrating egg tempera painting techniques on Thursday, August 6, from 9am to 5pm. Bookbinder Bev Woolner will be at St Mary’s Church Worstead on Thursday, August 6 from 10am to 4pm, and woodcarver Andy Hibberd will be at St Peter & Paul Church, Knapton on Saturday, August 8 from 10am to 4pm.

Jennie Hawks, Open Churches Officer, Diocese of Norwich said: “Open Churches Week is our way of showing off the wonderful, historic churches which have been part of the rich history of Norfolk for over a thousand years. It is also the time for local communities to show their pride in their church, which was the centre of countless villages for centuries, long before we had village halls and shops! Please come and enjoy them with us.”

Lydia Smith, Norfolk Tourism Team Manager said: “Norfolk is blessed with hundreds of wonderful historic churches. Open Churches Week is a great opportunity to get out and about in the county, leave the car at home and visit local churches by foot, boat, bicycle and train.”