Hidden delights to go on display

Churches, mosques and temples across Kirklees are joining together for a three-day festival giving everyone the opportunity to look inside the sacred buildings.

Treasures Revealed in Kirklees, organised by Kirklees Faiths Forum, takes place every year to encourage understanding and build relationships between our area’s different faith communities.

From July 13 to 15, many places of worship will be opening their doors for visitors to learn about their beliefs and practices. There will be guided tours, music, food and much more to experience. Visitors can explore historic and modern faith buildings and talk to those who worship there.

Participating venues include All Saints Church in Roberttown, where people can look around the 167-year-old building’s chancel arch and carved angels on the sanctuary ceiling.

The public can also look around the Grade II listed Batley Central Methodist Church, with its memorials recording prominent locals from the 19th century.

Dewsbury Minster, which can trace its history back 1,400 years, has artefacts from Viking, Norman and medieval times.

The Jamiat mosque in Scout Hill, Dewsbury, is putting on guided tours and an Islamic exhibition.

Batley Carr’s Holy Trinity Church proudly displays a memorial to local World War One hero Horace Waller VC.

Batley’s Masjid-e-Noor – mosque of light –accommodates up to 400 worshippers and has a thriving madressa school.

And at St Barnabas in Hightown, see how parishioners are gearing up for its 120th anniversary in 2013.

For full details of places of worship taking part in the festival, pick up a festival guide from participating venues or from any local library.

A guide can also be downloaded from www.kirkleesfaithsforum.org.uk.