On Friday 12th and Saturday 13th September, the team at St Mary’s Convent opened the doors to 71 visitors as part of the national Heritage Open Days and the city-wide Birmingham Heritage Week. This is a time for people from near and far to have access to heritage sites and explore places they would otherwise not have experienced.
We operated pre-bookable morning and afternoon tours on the Friday and a morning tour on the Saturday – both followed by tea and biscuits in the original Convent refectory. Tours were led by Sisters Brigid and Patricia, as well as Congregational Archivist Jenny Smith. We had invaluable support from Sister Marie and the rest of St Mary’s Team and volunteers. Tour groups even got to watch some live conservation by Katharine Ellender who is on a conservation placement from West Dean College in West Sussex. Katharine showed the visitors the repackaging of an historic photograph collection from the Congregational Archive.
Tour visitors often comment on how interesting and peaceful the convent is. We very much enjoy guiding people and helping them to share in the story of the Sisters of Mercy. It is a heritage and a building that is worth sharing!
