Church

Eardisley Church - Welcome to the Heritage, Cultural and Visitors' Centre

When you visit Eardisley Church you'll find much more than a celebrated Romanesque font and a peaceful place of worship.

You'll find a building that's alive with information and exhibitions to attract your interest and make your stay in the village memorable.

You'll catch the feeling of a vibrant community where people work or have fun together in dozens of wonderful ways.

This website will help you to see how the church building plays a part in the everyday lively community - the heritage, business, music and arts activity that is Eardisley.

Like many English villages, Eardisley has a big mediaeval parish church. When it was built it would have been used for markets, law courts, theatre and even sport, as well as for religious purposes, because it was the only real community building in the village. In recent centuries however, this church, like others has come to be seen primarily a place of worship, and for rites of passage like weddings, baptisms and funerals.

We think it's important that the church building in Eardisley is preserved as a resource for communities of the future. It will be easier to accomplish this if people regard the building in the way our mediaeval ancestors did as a place to use any day, instead of just Sunday, and for many purposes.

This mediaeval approach surprises a lot of people. Far from being divided into separate parts for different uses or being made into a village hall, the whole church building is remaining available for worship and celebration, with enhanced facilities. And, in addition

• there are exhibitions featuring local history, local businesses and topical or controversial issues
• there's information about the church and the village and about things to see and do in the area, for tourists
• there are concerts and music workshops at regular intervals.

People do drop in, perhaps just to see the Font but they stay on and look at the exhibitions, and talk about what they see. The benefits to the community, to visitors in the area, to local businesses and performing groups are growing.

With the help of DEFRA and other grant funding agencies, a kitchen and toilets have been built and there is performance staging, lighting, a sound and loop system and display equipment. Eardisley Church now provides a comfortable and efficient environment for people using the building for all these appropriate purposes.

The Church is always open, so you are welcome to drop in anytime; it is accessible for wheelchair users.