Churches open their doors for Treasures Revealed
Around 35 Leeds churches are opening their doors and holding special events during the first fortnight in May. The ‘Treasures Revealed’ Festival will see exhibitions, guided tours and open days in many of the city’s historic church buildings.
In the Victoria Quarter, an exhibition revealing the wide range of church-based community projects across Leeds is to be enjoyed by shoppers. The Did You Know? exhibition was launched in the Victoria Quarter on 1st May. It aims to inspire and attract residents and visitors to see and celebrate the dynamic contribution that churches make to communities throughout Leeds. It is hoped that shoppers who flock to the Victoria Quarter for cutting edge design will also pause to appreciate not only the beauty and splendour of the city's church buildings but also their important role in community life.
The Did You Know? Exhibition is part of the Treasures Revealed heritage festival. It focuses on some of the many community initiatives and projects that the wider church is involved with across Leeds Metropolitan District.
Development worker, Sue Hoey, said, ‘It’s a chance for shoppers to see what an amazing wide range of areas the church and its volunteers support. Too often these inspirational people go unnoticed in the city. But we want to bring their achievements and service out and celebrate their contribution to our communities, and encourage others to appreciate the value of people working together to transform the region.’
From the arts and creative industries to youth work in schools the church is often the foundation for many charitable and outreach projects. One such notable project is the citywide Kidz Klub, which visits 1,300 inner city children in their homes every week as well as running activity clubs.
A celebration and thanksgiving service for social action across Leeds is also planned for Sunday 10th May at 3pm at St Anne's Cathedral in the city centre.
Whilst most of the projects featured are ecumenical, specifically Anglican initiatives featuring in the displays include: St Chad’s Parish Church, St Cross Church in Middleton, St John’s Church Yeadon, St James’ Church Wetherby, Holy Trinity on Boar Lane and St George’s Crypt.
About Did You Know?
- Treasures Revealed in Leeds is happening the first week in May. There are around 40 churches city wide involved in the festival.
- The project is coordinated by Leeds Churches Together in Mission, One City Projects and the Leeds City Centre Churches Group.
- Treasures Revealed in Leeds is part of Treasures Revealed in West Yorkshire, a three-year Heritage Lottery Fund-backed project that aims to inspire and attract residents and visitors to experience and celebrate West Yorkshire's vibrant faith heritage.
- For more information visit www.treasuresrevealed.co.uk
St Aidan's Harehills
St Aidan’s Church in Harehills, Leeds, is one of the churches taking part in Treasures Revealed in Leeds for the fourth time. The doors will be open on the two Saturdays the 2nd and 9th of May to show off to the public their wonderful mosaic (see picture above) and other treasures in the church. The mosaic, which extends some one thousand square feet across the eastern apse shows four periods in the life of St Aidan. It was created by Frank Brangwyn RA between 1909 and 1916 and was regarded by the artist as possibly his best work. Also in the church is furniture by Robert (Mouseman) Thompson of Kilburn, sculpture and paintings by the Viennese artist Josef Heu and many other works of interest including an organ by Binns of Bramley.
The church will be open from 10.30am to 4.30pm on both Saturdays and there will be conducted tours of the mosaic and the church to meet demand. Guides will be on hand to talk to visitors and refreshments will be available all day.
Churches and Mosques across Kirklees are also throwing open their doors to visitors and local residents in Kirklees from 2-10 May, and everyone is invited! Places of worship across the district will be showing off their buildings and activities through fascinating guided tours or through events and presentations.
The festival is part of the Treasures Revealed in West Yorkshire project that aims to attract residents and visitors to experience and celebrate West Yorkshire's vibrant faith heritage. Project Development Officer David Thompson said:
"Faith buildings have been at the heart of our local communities throughout our history. They have played, and continue to play a vital social, economic and spiritual role within our towns and villages. Although faiths and denominations have evolved to reflect our society's ethnic and spiritual diversity, their consistent beacon of peace and love for humankind continues to burn as brightly."
As well as providing a new cultural experience for many people, the Festival will also offer the chance for everyone to trace their family roots in churchyards, memorials and records.
"It's a chance for local people and visitors to see for themselves that people in faith communities are just ordinary men, women and children, and that the myths and misconceptions pedalled by unscrupulous sections of the media and opportunistic politicians are simply not true,” said Mr Thompson.
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