Friday 18 September, 14.00 – 18.00
Saturday 19 September, 10.00 – 15.00
HERITAGE OPEN DAYS are a national occasion when the public are invited to visit important buildings which might not otherwise be accessible to them. Churches tend to be prominent among the visitable buildings, especially in areas like Marple, which are short of castles, mansions, guildhalls, opera houses, etc.
ST MARTIN’S CHURCH, inconspicuous on the outside, is remarkable for its interior, full of works by artists of the Arts and Crafts Movement. Today, we are often told that religion, like almost everything else, must go virtual. But we hope that there will still be value in sacred spaces like St Martin’s, where a fascinating mixture of art and history can be enjoyed. The church will be open with Covid-preventive arrangements in place – and with copious information about its artistic treasures, so that visitors can make a self-guided tour, with social distancing.
