Town's churches open their doors for heritage weekend

On Saturday, people are invited to take guided tours and hear about the heritage of both Rotherham Minster and the town's rare Chapel on the Bridge.

Various displays will be staged around the Minster from 10am until 4pm. From the Minster, visitors can then walk the short distance to the Chapel on the Bridge. It is one of only four surviving "bridge chapels" in the country.

Services are held each week but visitors rarely get the chance to go downstairs and see the crypt, which was once used to house criminals.

The Vicar of Rotherham, Canon David Bliss, said: "The Minster is a fine and beautiful church that has a long history – in fact there has been a church on this site since 937AD.

"It is the focal point of the town centre and whether people are religious or not, I am sure it would be hugely missed if it were not here.

"It has a long tradition of providing faith and support over the centuries, a tradition that continues to this day as the Minster is also the civic church for the borough."

He added: "The Chapel on the Bridge is an absolute jewel. It has sat on one of the main routes into Rotherham for centuries and would have an enthralling story to tell if its walls could speak."

Other churches taking part in the heritage event include Christ Church, Brampton Bierlow; All Hallows in Harthill; St Bartholomew's in Maltby; Talbot Lane Church; Holy Trinity, Thorpe Hesley; St Peter and St Paul, Todwick, St Helen's in Treeton; All Saints in Wath; Holy Trinity in Wentworth; and St Mary Magdalene in Whiston.