I have always loved to visit old buildings when exploring a destination and there is no better example of a building that has seen a town moving through the centuries than the local church.
I have seen many places of worship across the continent and they never seize to astonish me with their beauty, history and creativity. There are so many styles of architecture and amazing pieces of art available to see so I never get bored of taking a pew and enjoying the views inside.
A bit of peace…
Visiting a ‘house of God’ has always given me a great feeling of peace and helped me to relax in times of stress. The composure felt with visiting might be down to the quiet atmosphere, the generous community spirit or the comfort of knowing that you are walking in the same footsteps as many for centuries before you.
These are the places where families and friends gather to celebrate key moments in their lives, discuss important issues and deal with troubling emotions. The stories that are held in the walls of these temples are vast and intriguing and makes it no wonder that church tourism is one of the most popular forms of heritage tourism.
Church Tourism
With St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey being in the top ten paid attractions in the UK and many church groups trying to zone in on the tourist market through new innovations, religious buildings have never been more interesting.
Whilst in many parts of Europe churches are still used solely for worship, there are several cathedrals and churches in main cities and within the UK that are diversifying their offering to satisfy the curiosity of tourists. Services offered to tourists include: guided tours, information displays, gifts, events, and trails.
A snapshot of some of the most beautiful Churches, Monasteries, Cathedrals and Chapels i have seen across Europe…
Many churches that are part of the Churches Conservation Trust have even gone a step further by re-purposing the churches for modern activities such as rock concerts and ‘champing’, the new trend of camping inside one of these beautiful churches.
Norfolk’s Churches
In my home county of Norfolk there are no shortage of churches and in Norwich it is said that there is a church for every week of the year. This makes for a beautiful landscape where you are almost guaranteed to see a church spire on the horizon whilst driving through the countryside.
With churches towering over the Norfolk Broads, the coast and the farmlands of the county you can experience amazing views of the area, whilst discovering the interesting history and culture of the English county inside.
Some of the most inviting and innovative churches include St Michael’s in Aylsham, St Michael’s in Booton and St Peter & St Paul in Salle.
St Peter & St Paul in Salle near Reepham was built between 1400 and 1450 and restored around 1900. Salle church is rumoured to be the burial site of the unfortunate Anne Boleyn, the former wife of King Henry VIII. The Boleyns lived in the village as early as 1318, only getting status later when they aquired Blickling Hall; the nearby Jacobean estate. Features include a chancel roof with carvings showing scenes from the life of Christ.
St Michael & All Angels in Booton also near Reepham is known as the ‘Cathedral of Fields’ because of its a remarkable example of great architecture. It was designed and built in 1891 by Revd Whitwell Elwin, a descendant of the famous Pocahontas. Booton church has full sized carved angels, a timber framed roof, and colourful stained glass windows.
St Michael’s in Aylsham was built in the early 14th century. The rood screen dates to 1507 and there is also a medieval crypt uncovered during renovations of the church. This church is still a buzzing community hub in the charming market town of Aylsham today.
Keep up the good work!
Whether in the UK or abroad, churches, cathedrals, chapels and monasteries can all be a brilliant place to learn about local heritage and traditions. It is great to see so many church teams trying to attract new visitors and I hope this carries on with the support and partnership of the community to keep these historic buildings around for future generations to enjoy.
Go Go Chlo 