Holy Rood Church Packington – special Heritage Day event, Saturday 9th September 2023 - 9.00am to 5.00pm.
Walk into history as you visit our lovely old village church, a Grade II listed building, and our intriguing churchyard, with tombs which tell so many stories in themselves. The village and church were given in 1043 by Earl Leofric of Mercia to his new foundation of Coventry Abbey and a priest is recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086. The oldest parts of the present Holy Rood Church are believed to date from the late eleventh century, or at the latest from the reign of King John (1199-1216). In the 13th Century the tower was begun and the south aisle built and there have been various additions and alterations in the centuries since.
Visitors have the opportunity to take advantage of a guided tour, led by a member of the Packington Village History Group, which will take place at 2.00 pm on the 9th September 2023, and at other times they can take a self-guided tour using an information booklet provided. Hear about the forcible eviction of the vicar during the civil war, see the steps which lead to nowhere!
The building is open for visitors between 9.00 am and 4pm, on other days up to and including September 16th, (except on Wednesday when it will close at 2.00pm). There will be a service in church at 10.00 am on Sunday 10th September.
On the Saturday afternoon the programme is as follows:
1.00pm A quarter peal of bells.
1.45 pm Our Community Choir will give a taster of its repertoire.
2.00pm The guided tour
3.00pm Pudding Bag Productions, our local Heritage Production Company, will show a film of the life of a C17th Vicar of Packington
AFTERNOON TEA will be served from 2.00pm until 4.30pm and a treasure hunt will be available for children to enjoy. In addition, there will be a display in church by the History Group, and also of memorabilia with old photos and stories of past events and of key people in the life of the church, plus an attractive array of tapestried kneelers.
Access
Access in one or two areas will be restricted, but most of the building is accessible and there is a disabled toilet. There is parking in the nearby village recreation ground car park on Measham Road.