|TOP|The Archbishop of York has highlighted the importance of the Church in boosting culture in the 21st century at a special gathering with other senior members of the church on Monday.

Dr John Sentamu was joined by other leading figures in the Church of England at his official residence of Bishopthorpe Palace on the outskirts of York where they launched a new programme to raise awareness of the importance of the cultural activity in Yorkshire’s places of worship, reports the Yorkshire Post.

The Treasures Revealed scheme is the work of the Churches Regional Commission for Yorkshire and the Humber and draws upon the highly successful North Yorkshire Churches Tourism Initiative which brought about a twofold increase in the number of visitors to churches in the region over a period of three years.

The Archbishop of York stressed the unique role played by churches at the launch of the programme which aims to highlight the important contribution of church-based activities in the region to the social, cultural and economic life of local communities.

|AD|“Churches are primarily places of worship, but have also been used as venues for the arts, teaching, meeting and even at times as hospital and markets,” he said.

"Human beings are created to live in communities and to share the rich diversity of interests with which God has endowed them. The more we can use our buildings to encourage these interests, the better."

Further details of the innovative culture schemes already launched in Yorkshire’s communities have been laid out in a leaflet for the Treasures Revealed project.

One such scheme is the Bridges initiative in Bradford which uses music to build stronger relationships and greater understanding between young people from different communities.

A special conference, called ‘Creative Spaces, Vibrant Places’, has been planned for the Treasures Revealed project and will take place in Wakefield on March 25. The first conference will be followed on by a festival in Leeds from April 29 to May 7 and summer training programme for church members.

More information is available from Zoe Kemp at the Churches Regional Commission for Yorkshire and the Humber on 0113 244 3413 or online at www.crc-online.org.uk
paul.jeeves@ypn.co.uk