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Take a pew says church

6/ 5/2004

A 500-YEAR-old church is opening its doors for two days a week as part of a nationwide campaign by a trust founded by songwriter Andrew Lloyd Webber.

The scheme aims to promote the opening of places of worship kept locked between services.

Ancient churches can be a fund of knowledge about local history as well as a haven for peace and prayer but risk of burglary and vandalism means churches have to keep doors bolted between services.

Some 38 parishioners have agreed to act as stewards. Children can follow the St Michael's trail quiz sheet between 10am and 2pm every Saturday and Sunday until October at the Church of St Michael and All Angels in Mottram.

Tony Kershaw, a warden at the parish church on Warhill - the second oldest in Tameside after St Michael's in Ashton - said: "With help and encouragement from the Open Churches Trust we decided last year to open the church to the public. This proved to be extremely successful, attracting over 250 visitors between April and October, with 44 visiting in one afternoon in July."

Although the present church dates from the late 1400s, there is evidence of a church at Mottram in 1225, from ancient documents.

In 1855 the church underwent a major restoration when the nave roof was raised and noteworthy features include an alabaster pulpit and several stained windows.