Heritage Open Days - Various Events and Dates

for 8 days, 4 hours
Church Of The Holy Sepulchre
Sheep Street/Church Lane Northampton, NN1 3NL, United Kingdom

Step Into 900 Years of History

Every September, Heritage Open Days invites people across England to explore historic buildings, hidden places, and places of interest all for free. It’s the country’s largest festival of history and culture, celebrating the landmarks, traditions, and tales that have shaped our shared heritage.

This year, we’re opening the doors of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Northampton’s medieval round church built in 1100 AD, with a programme of tours and events that uncover centuries of faith, history, and mystery.

The Theme this year is everyday histories. So we thought we would share the everyday life in a medieval church.

What’s On at the Holy Sepulchre

Saturday 12 September (10am–4pm)
Title: A Day at Church in Medieval Northampton
Step into the rhythm of daily life in medieval Northampton.

Tuesday 15 September (12pm–2pm)
Title: Lunchtime Church: A Medieval Pause in the Middle of the Day
Drop in during your lunch break and experience the church as part of everyday life.

Thursday 17 September (2pm)
Title: The Holy Sepulchre and Its History
Step inside one of Northampton’s most historic buildings with a guided tour by one of our knowledgeable volunteers.

Thursday 17 September (Evening)
Title: Torchlight Tour: The Medieval Church After Dark
Experience the church as it might have felt in a world without electric light.

By torchlight, the building changes.

Saturday 19 September (2pm–4pm)
Title: A Day at Church in Medieval Northampton
Step into the rhythm of daily life in medieval Northampton.

Saturday 19 September (Evening)
Title: Torchlight Tour: The Medieval Church After Dark
Experience the church as it might have felt in a world without electric light.

Sunday 20 September (11am–2pm)
Title: A Day at Church in Medieval Northampton
Step into the rhythm of daily life in medieval Northampton.

We’d love to welcome you through our doors this September. Whether you come by candlelight, for a quiet afternoon tour, or to celebrate Holy Cross Day, you’ll be stepping into more than 900 years of living history.

More info

Church Of The Holy Sepulchre

Holy Sepulchre has been welcoming worshippers and visitors in Northampton since 1100AD.

While we love our building we recognize that the church community is more than a building and our services, events, and groups all aim to bring people together.

As a registered Inclusive Church we welcome all people regardless of age, race, gender, sexuality, mental or physical abilities, or financial or social status. We fully support the ministry of women as deacons, priests, and bishops.

Services are usually followed by tea, coffee and biscuits in the adjacent Community Room.

We also know that attending a church for the first time can be a little nerve-wracking and daunting too. For this reason we have a community manager whose job it is to answer any of your questions, meet you before service, escort you into the building, introduce you to others and walk you through how we worship here. We want you to feel cared for here and not allow nerves or worries to get in the way of your worship. Just e-mail [email protected] and we can start chatting.

Similarly, if you want to attend but getting here is a challenge, e-mail as we might be able to help.

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Get in touch

Edmund Gibbs

Church of The Holy Sepulchre,
Church Lane

NN1 3NL
Churchwarden
07941 508839

Our website

What's on

Heritage Open Days - Various Events and Dates

for 8 days, 4 hours
Church Of The Holy Sepulchre
Sheep Street/Church Lane Northampton, NN1 3NL, United Kingdom

Step Into 900 Years of History

Every September, Heritage Open Days invites people across England to explore historic buildings, hidden places, and places of interest all for free. It’s the country’s largest festival of history and culture, celebrating the landmarks, traditions, and tales that have shaped our shared heritage.

This year, we’re opening the doors of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Northampton’s medieval round church built in 1100 AD, with a programme of tours and events that uncover centuries of faith, history, and mystery.

The Theme this year is everyday histories. So we thought we would share the everyday life in a medieval church.

What’s On at the Holy Sepulchre

Saturday 12 September (10am–4pm)
Title: A Day at Church in Medieval Northampton
Step into the rhythm of daily life in medieval Northampton.

Tuesday 15 September (12pm–2pm)
Title: Lunchtime Church: A Medieval Pause in the Middle of the Day
Drop in during your lunch break and experience the church as part of everyday life.

Thursday 17 September (2pm)
Title: The Holy Sepulchre and Its History
Step inside one of Northampton’s most historic buildings with a guided tour by one of our knowledgeable volunteers.

Thursday 17 September (Evening)
Title: Torchlight Tour: The Medieval Church After Dark
Experience the church as it might have felt in a world without electric light.

By torchlight, the building changes.

Saturday 19 September (2pm–4pm)
Title: A Day at Church in Medieval Northampton
Step into the rhythm of daily life in medieval Northampton.

Saturday 19 September (Evening)
Title: Torchlight Tour: The Medieval Church After Dark
Experience the church as it might have felt in a world without electric light.

Sunday 20 September (11am–2pm)
Title: A Day at Church in Medieval Northampton
Step into the rhythm of daily life in medieval Northampton.

We’d love to welcome you through our doors this September. Whether you come by candlelight, for a quiet afternoon tour, or to celebrate Holy Cross Day, you’ll be stepping into more than 900 years of living history.

More info

Safeguarding

Our parish of Northampton: Holy Sepulchre w S Andrew & St Lawrence is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults from harm. We follow the House of Bishops guidance and policies and have our own Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO). Our Diocese of Peterborough’s safeguarding pages contain vital links and information including contacts for the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor who advises our PSO. If you are concerned that a child or adult has been harmed or may be at risk of harm please contact the PSO [email protected] or the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor Victoria Kellett [email protected] 01733 887000 . If you have immediate concerns about the safety of someone, please contact the police and your local authority’s children or adult social care services.

Church Of The Holy Sepulchre Charity No. 1145945