Campaign aims to promote interest in places of worship

Mark Branagan

A church in York is to feature in a new CD project being promoted by Loyd Grossman as part of a wider campaign to whip up public interest in places of worship which are national treasures.

The celebrity chef, who also chairs the Churches Conservation Trust (CCT), the national charity protecting historic churches at risk, hopes that by raising the profile of the historic buildings more money will be generated for their upkeep.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

York University has teamed up with the CCT to produce a new electronic interpretation of Holy Trinity in Goodramgate, York, one of 342 exceptional churches in CCT’s care.

The university’s Christianity and Culture section was asked by the CCT to produce a touch-screen interpretation programme and a CD showcasing the history of Holy Trinity. It will be unveiled at the Trust’s annual conference in London on Monday.

It will include a 360 degree panorama highlighting the key features to see and an evolving model showing the development of the building through nine centuries.

An illustrated history includes stories of people associated with the church through the ages. Selling the CD as a souvenir will benefit the church and CCT. The touch-screen will be installed in Holy Trinity over autumn.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Dr Dee Dyas, Director of Christianity and Culture, said: “Parish churches are not only treasure houses of astonishingly beautiful art and architecture; they are also story books with the experiences and memories of individuals and communities inscribed on their walls.”

The project is being carried out in parallel with the launch of a DVD The English Parish Church through the Centuries, which also involved the Christianity and Culture team at York.

The interactive DVD was announced by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, at the General Synod in York in July.

Loyd Grossman will host the London launch of the DVD the day after the Holy Trinity presentation at the same conference.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: “The DVD will not only bring CCT’s Little Witchingham, in Norfolk, and other national jewels to a wider public, it will enable people to understand and engage with what they see.”

Related topics: