NEWTON St Cyres will be celebrating 30 years of National Heritage Open Days by offering FREE guides tours of its church, the bell tower and the launch of its new booklet, “The History of the A377” from 10am to 12 noon on two days, Wednesday, September 11 and Saturday, September 14.

In addition, after the Wednesday free Guided Tours of the church, two-course lunches (pay by donation) will be on offer at the Village Hall.

Alternatively, after the Saturday free Guided Tours, a short “pilgrimage” will set off from Newton St Cyres Church, along part of the St Boniface Way to the Church at Upton Pyne, where more free tea and cake will be offered plus a tour of that lovely church.

Each year Heritage Open Days celebrate historic sites across the country with some 46,000 entries.  

Christine Fraser, from Newton St Cyres Community Church Association, said: “Like many of our wonderful local churches, the Church of St Cyr and St Julitta, seen by all who pass through the village between Crediton and Exeter, dates back some 800 years.

“Among the monuments and decorations of earlier centuries are rare monuments to James II and to the Northcote and Quicke families dating back to 1549.”

Christine explained that tours start at 10am and each tour is 45 minutes.

People can join any tour, or switch and swap to meet their interests.

The tours are:

• Monuments and Families

• Heraldry and History

• Tower Climb and Bellringing Chamber

• View and discuss the History of the A377 as seen from the churchyard

• Short “pilgrimage” from NSC to Upton Pyne Church.

She added: “Celebrate our local history and heritage by joining.”

This year’s National Heritage Open Days theme is “Routes, Networks and Connections”.