Heritage Open Days - St Mary's Church, West Rainton

About

​​​​​​Come and visit this majestic church in the French Gothic style with a tall spire, stunning stained glass windows, a rare reredos and a tablet from the pyramid of Giza.

On Saturday 13th September, St Mary's Church, West Rainton will open its doors to the public from 10am until 3pm. The event provides an ideal opportunity to celebrate our heritage, community, and history by exploring hidden places and trying new experiences. St Mary’s has been at the heart of West Rainton for over 160 years. Its 130 ft steeple can be seen for miles and its church bells are an integral component of the soundtrack to daily life in the village. Its heritage belongs to everyone; especially local residents whose forebears played a part in making the village what it is today.

Visitors from both near and far are invited to come and learn more about our wonderful church which is significant not only as a place to worship, but also as an impressive piece of architecture. Come and let us show you the interesting artifacts housed at St Mary’s as well as the history of some of the people involved in making the church what it is today-- their links with mineworking, politics and family tragedy.

The activities on offer include a guided tour, a heritage display, a stained-glass window discovery trail, detailed presentations about the building and its history, and family-friendly trails and quizzes. Refreshments will also be available throughout the event.