Linking tourism and churches

The new manager of the Southwell and Nottingham Diocesan Church History Project, Mrs Tracey Akehurst, was introduced to the synod on Saturday.

Mrs Akehurst, of Oxton, started work as manager last week.

It is a part-time job, which means she will continue as administrator for the churches of Gonalston, Epperstone, Oxton and Woodborough.

Her new job will be to co-ordinate the project, drawing together staff and volunteers and promoting the project’s resources in schools and communities.

Mrs Akehurst, who is married with two children, Jack (17) and Ellen (15) said the job had huge potential.

“It is a great opportunity being able to set something up from scratch and take it on right from the beginning,” she said.

“I hope to be able to help churches raise their profile for tourism and open people’s eyes to all that they have to offer in terms of education and tourism.”

The work is being co-ordinated by an action group chaired by Mr Nick Harding.

He said the project, being undertaken by the Diocesan Advisory Committee helped by Nottingham University and other agencies, was well under way.

Volunteer researchers have been gathering historical information on churches throughout the diocese. As a result more than 70 churches already have pages with information about them.

The project has been awarded £382,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund — about half the cost of the scheme — which has enabled them to take on the project manager.

Mr Harding said that in the next five years the project would develop a website with fully researched historical information for all churches in the diocese. There will also be information aimed at tourists and visitors.

He said it was hoped to publish new tourism leaflets with historical information in every church and develop tourism trails for visitors to the area. It is also hoped the work will improve school visits to church buildings.