Diocesan Tourism Pages

Southwell & Nottingham Diocese includes 314 church buildings, with 109 Grade 1 listed, 74 Grade 2* and 74 Grade 2. A list may be found at http://www.southwell.anglican.org/, including addresses of the 32 churches that currently have websites. Historical information on many of Southwell’s churches has been compiled by its Church History Project:  http://southwellchurches.nottingham.ac.uk/. 

Southwell & Nottingham Diocese includes some famous urban churches, such as St. Mary the Virgin
and St. Peter with St. James (Nottingham), St. Mary Magdalene (Newark), pictured left, courtesy of Heather Faulks) and the Cathedral and Parish Church of the Virgin Mary (Southwell Minster), all of which are open during daylight hours. It also has a number of interesting churches in rural locations, many of which are accessible through Nottinghamshire’s network of bike trails and waymarked paths, as well as by car. Our  ‘Church of the Month’ for August 2002 is St. Peter’s Clayworth, one of several Southwell churches located at the side of the Chesterfield Canal.
About 10% of our rural churches are open for visitors most of the time, many located in pleasant villages with a good pub or tearooms. We are currently compiling a register of church
tourism contacts for each parish, to keep us constantly updated with opening hours, but at present you are welcome to contact the Diocesan Tourism Adviser: dta@myrashackley.freeserve.co.uk for further information. 

A Church Tourism Newsletter is circulated four times a year, containing details of churches that are open as well as those acting as host to special festivals, concerts or events. 

Churches you might like to visit:
Laxton, St Michael. Beautiful village famous for its medieval open-field farming system. Waymarked walks and Visitor Centre. Pub food, bike route. (photo: Keith Duke) 

Edwinstowe, St Mary. Robin Hood and Maid Marian were married in this church, (open 12-4, near Center Parcs and Sherwood Forest) (photo:Heather Faulkes) 

Hucknall, St Mary Magdalene. A large urban parish church where the poet Byron is buried. (near Newstead Abbey).