Visitors to the 2012 Olympics will be able to escape one of the busiest periods the capital has ever seen by exploring its rich Christian heritage. The Diocese of London has published a guide to walking tours of the city’s places of tranquillity, prayer and historic interest. All over London, churches will open their doors to visitors throughout the Games.
Available both as a free download and as a full colour booklet available free of charge from participating churches, ‘Faith Walks’ comprise six trails starting out from Olympic venues. More than 40 churches are participating and will be open to the public all day throughout the duration of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Some of them are famous London sights in tourist hotspots, such as St Martin-in-the-Fields and St James, Piccadilly. Others are hidden jewels that have never been open regularly before; they will surprise and delight even Londoners who think they know their city well.
[blockquote] “The Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, welcomed the launch of the guide, saying:
“Visitors and Londoners, this summer the capital’s huge variety of churches stand ready to make you welcome. All of them are lively places of worship but they are at the same time community hubs treasure houses of memory. This booklet is an aperitif. I hope you will go and enjoy the main course.”” [/blockquote]
This should be heady stuff. And its not just wonderful old buildings. The Olympic visitors will be going to churches where faith is alive and growing: Last month the Church of England Newspaper referred to the Diocese of London as: “the one Anglican diocese (in England) which has consistently grown over the last 20 years”