THE LARGEST parish church in Warwickshire is opening its doors – and its tower – to visitors following recently-completed repairs.
St Edith’s Church in Monks Kirby is inviting the public to witness the stunning views from its church tower on an open day next weekend.
The open day is being held to celebrate the completion of repair works to the church’s pinnacles and weathervanes, and a year-long series of heritage activities, thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Visitors will be encouraged to climb to the top of the church tower to admire the views across the countryside, and see the restored pinnacles and golden weathervanes which now dazzle as they catch the sun.
For those less able, there will be a choice of digital products than enables everyone to explore the church architecture while remaining at ground level.
A replica Lego model of the church will be unveiled on the open day.A replica Lego model of the church will also be unveiled, which a number of local community groups helped to build using 15,000 bricks. The model was designed and completed by Bricks McGee.
Other activities on the open day will include guided tours, a computer-generated artist’s impression of what the church would have looked like as a priory with monks hundreds of years ago, self-led smartphone tours of the stained glass windows, have-a-go-at-bellringing sessions, and hands-on craft activities similar to those done by Medieval monks.
It is all possible thanks to a £59,200 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and grants from Trinity College Cambridge, the Warwickshire and Coventry Historic Churches Trust, and Coventry Diocese.
Church representative Patricia Barnett said: “We are thrilled to have received this support thanks to National Lottery players.
“The funding allowed us to carry out urgent repairs to the church pinnacles on the tour. It also gave us an opportunity to engage people of all ages with the diverse heritage that St Edith’s has on offer.
“We are grateful to all those who supported us financially. We warmly welcome everyone to join our celebration at the end of this heritage project.”
St Edith’s Church is a Grade I listed building. The first church on the site is said to have been founded in 917 by Ethelfleda, daughter of Alfred the Great. The current Priory Church of St Edith’s dates from 1077, when it was rebuilt by Breton knight Geoffrey de la Guerche.
The open day takes place on Sunday (June 4) from 2-4pm.
