tourism
Walks and tours C
hurch buildings matter to many more people than use them regularly for worship.
Church tourism, whether by pilgrims, organised groups or casual visitors, accounts for perhaps 12.5 million visits per year to the 140 Cathedrals and large, historic churches alone. However, those engaged in attracting smaller numbers of visitors to the thousands of less well known churches understand that their ministry to visitors is an important expression of what it means to be Christian in our society. The Churches Tourism Association estimates that visitor numbers to all churches may be between 30-50 million in a typical year, but no records are kept to prove it.
Among the many excellent projects that aim to share these places of Christian tradition and worship two are featured here. First the Diocese of Hereford’s Coach Tours. The diocesan tourism officer, Clare Phipps, has been able to interest several coach operators in the potential of the market in organised day trips to just four of the wonderful churches in this part of the West Midlands – Acton Scott, Bredwardine, Claverley and Weobley. There are many other churches open and ready to receive visitors, but the project is attracting the attention of groups that arrange visits for their members, not just church groups. Group organisers are always looking for fresh ideas and these four churches are geared up to receive visitors and reward them with an interesting visit, in addition to the other attractions in their area.
For further information contact Clare Phipps on 01432 373343 or
c.phipps@
hereford.anglican.org
O
n the borders of Somerset and Dorset the Rural Communities Regeneration
Group have produced a Church and
www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk 13
Countryside Walks pack which includes directions and “passports” for 22 circular walks. Each walk is detailed with map and places of interest on an easy to use card which folds to go in a pocket. Valuable information includes details of public transport, distance and time taken to complete the walk, places to eat and rest. The passport scheme draws in those businesses that will derive economic benefit from extra visitors, and so the church is showing that it can contribute to the local economy by playing its own part in attracting visitors to this lovely area to the south east of Taunton. The Churches have been supported by seven partners in this project including the District Council.
The Hidden Britain Centre project, driven by the Arthur Rank Centre goes from strength to strength with new projects being developed in several regions. Not all the Hidden Britain Centres have a strong church involvement but those at Dentdale, Eskdale and Low Furness have been the brain child of the local church
community. Visit the website
www.hidden-britain.co.uk to see the Hidden Britain Centres in Cumbria. Enquiries on this project should be made to the Arthur Rank Centre on 024 7685 3060 or
info@arthurrankcentre.org.uk Jeremy Martineau
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