A MEDIEVAL church will throw open its doors for a heritage day as visitors come face to face with the dress and weapons of the English Civil War.

The Heritage Open Day is taking place at St Mary's Church in Ripple this Saturday (September 16) between 10.30am and 12.30pm, the first time the church has participated in the national festival.

Grade I listed St Mary's is the largest medieval (c.1190) parish church in Worcestershire and is near the site of the Battle of Ripple Field on April 13, 1643.

The day, held in partnership with the National Trust, will include members of The Sealed Knot between 2pm and 4.30pm.

The Society will be demonstrating their 17th-century uniforms and weapons and talking about the Society’s history and activities.

Between 11am and 2pm there will be hourly conducted tours of the church, each lasting 30 minutes.

There will also be children’s activities from 11.30am onwards and light refreshments available including tea, coffee, cake, and biscuits.

On Sunday from 10.30am onwards, there will be a supervised demonstration of the cleaning of the nationally famous 15th century misericord carvings by local volunteers.

There will be hourly tours between 11am and 2pm.

The church is on the Historic England at-risk register and church custodians need to raise at least £500,000 for conservation and refurbishment and to put St Mary`s on the heritage map.

The Battle of Ripple Field a Royalist cavalry force led by Prince Maurice routed Parliamentarian cavalry and infantry forces led by Sir William Waller.

As well as the building itself, there are many heritage features in the Church including 16 misericords (15th century) which are 'unique in England': medieval stained glass fragments; Victorian tiles by Chamberlain; a King James "She" Bible: Victorian painted glass windows by Kempe: a Green Man face; six bells cast by Roundhall foundry in 1808 and 100 handcrafted kneelers made by local residents.

St Mary's is also the "home" church of The Sealed Knot Society, the oldest and largest re-enactment society in the UK, founded by Ripple resident, Brigadier Peter Young.

All are welcome including children and young people. Entrance is free. For further details, please contact either Roger Gillard (Churchwarden) 01684 301006 anneroggillard@hotmail.co.uk or Nicholas Blake (Chairman, Friends of St Mary’s) on 01684 593563 or via email on ngdblake@aol.com