AS part of the nationwide Heritage Open Days this month all three religious buildings in the village of Bramhope will be open to visitors on the afternoon of Sunday, September 17.
This is a unique opportunity to visit three very different buildings, each with distinctive features, telling the story of the development of religion in one community over four centuries. Guides will be on hand to explain the major features and answer questions.
2022 was the first time the Puritan Chapel, the Anglican Church and the Methodist Church opened together for the Heritage Open days. This proved very popular with a steady stream of visitors of all ages. Many were local, taking the opportunity to explore these treasures on their doorstep, but there were visitors from afar afield as Latvia, Hamburg and Frankfurt.
The Methodist Church on Eastgate, built in 1896, is a beautiful hidden gem of a building. The theme for the Heritage Open Days 2023 is ‘Creativity Unwrapped’, so the church is showcasing the stained-glass windows. Most of the windows are by the firm of Heaton, Butler and Baine, which from 1862 to 1953 produced many of the most significant windows in British churches. There is also an outstanding modern window designed in 1990 by Sep Waugh, a York based artist. Creativity is also on show with an exhibition of the lovingly made church banners, a traditional part of Methodism, which, while decorating the church, act as an aid to worship and a point of focus. The church will be open from 1pm to 4.30pm and refreshments will be available.
St Giles Church on Church Hill is built from local stone from The Chevin and was dedicated in 1881, replacing the Chapel as the Anglican place of worship. Inside this beautiful building you will be able to read about the Rhodes/Darwin connection and other local families, as well as finding fine stained glass and furniture by Robert 'Mouseman' Thomson. Today, St Giles is a lively church serving the village and surrounding areas with both contemporary and traditional styles of worship. The church will be open from 1.30pm to 4.30pm and refreshments will be available.
The Grade 1 listed Bramhope Puritan Chapel was built in 1649 by Robert Dyneley. Step back in time in this rare example of a chapel constructed specifically for Puritan Worship, one of only two religious buildings erected in England in the period of the English Civil War and the rule of Cromwell. This highly atmospheric building features an elevated pulpit from which the minister could look down on the occupants of the box pews to ensure they paid attention during the long sermons. The Chapel is on Leeds Road adjacent to the Britannia Hotel. Open from 1.30pm to 4.30pm.
No booking is needed.
Further details can be found on the Heritage Open Days website at https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/
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