Everyone is invited to the Summer Open Day at St John's Church on Saturday 20 July from 11am until 3pm. Join the Friends of St John's and Avoncroft Museum for a free event to celebrate the church's heritage, as part of the Bromsgrove Festival. 

The heritage engagement Summer Open Day has been organised in collaboration with Avoncroft Museum, The Bromsgrove Society and Bromsgrove's Norton Collection Museum at the town's Grade I listed church building. 

The church tower will be open from 11.30am until 2.30pm, allowing visitors to climb the 100 steps to the top of the tower to see the views. The bell ringing room will also be open giving visitors the chance to have a go at ringing the bells, with the help of the bell ringing team. Those climbing the tower will be asked to make a donation towards the Spire Appeal. There's no need to book to climb, but numbers will be limited and climbers will be allowed up on a first come first to climb basis.

Inside the church, visitors can have a go on the organ from 11am until 12.30pm, learn about the churches history from author Simon Henderson, help the vicar to find his keys and have a go at some inSPIREing crafts. There's also a Treasure Hunt for all ages - follow the clues to find the heritage treasures at Bromsgrove's oldest building.  

At the Summer Open Day visitors will be able to chat to teams from Avoncroft Museum, The Bromsgrove Society and the Norton Collection Museum. The team from Avoncroft will have a model timber frame building with them - and they will be looking for help to build it! 

The Summer Open Day hosted by Friends of St John's to support the Spire Appeal. To find out more about the Spire Appeal visit www.stjohnsfriends.co.uk or find Friends of St John's on Facebook.

Please be aware that there are 100 steps to the top of the tower - if it rains, the tower top wont be open. Due to the narrow spiral staircase numbers are restricted and visitors will be able to climb the tower on a first come first served basis.