Sing to save historic churches across England

Some of the most spectacular and historic churches in England, no longer used for regular services, will be alive with music and song over the weekend of 3 ­-4 October.

Called 'Birthday Song', the weekend will see 40 choirs perform in 40 of the most significant historic churches cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust, to celebrate the charity's 40th birthday and provide a unique opportunity for local people to rediscover these magnificent buildings and find out they can be saved for future generations through contemporary community use.

Each of the 40 churches is nationally significant. Examples range from those built by William The Conqueror's knights for subjugation of the Welsh, glorious tributes to murdered sons, sites of Civil war conflict, beacons of hope used to guide Allied fighter pilots home during the Second World War, nationally important architecture, resting places of the famous, through to those destroyed by the marauding French...and the odd earthquake!

Churches will be jumping to music as varied as songs from the shows, Barbershop, sing alongs and classics. Most events are free and ­ leading up to Birthday Song ­ visitors can vote for which song they want to sing. For full details of Birthday Song see: www.visitchurches.org.uk/birthdaysong.