The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will welcome visitors to four historic British landmarks in partnership with Heritage Open Days 2026, inviting residents to explore nearly two centuries of faith, architecture and community during England’s largest celebration of history and culture.
“The more we learn about the people, stories and heritage that exists in the places we live, the more meaningful those places become and the more we feel connected to them and those we share them with, both in the past and in the present,” said James Perry, Area Church History Manager for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Heritage Open Days, managed by the National Trust, is a nationwide festival that highlights the nation’s rich past and diverse built environment, offering free access to thousands of properties and monuments each year. More than a million people took part last year and this year's programme will once again encourage residents to discover the hidden histories all around them from 11–20 September 2026.
Keen historians and festivalgoers will be able to explore how the Church has influenced life in and around Hyde Park Chapel in London, Gadfield Elm Chapel in rural Worcestershire, Eastbourne Chapel in East Sussex, and Chorley in Lancashire. Tours, family activities, ancestry experiences and musical performances will focus on architectural interest and community storytelling throughout the ten-day event. All events are free and open to everyone, regardless of faith background.
The Church's involvement with Heritage Open Days 2026 reflects a commitment to preserving heritage and openness in sharing it. Participation also allows visitors to experience history first-hand, at a time when interest in Christianity has begun to echo the religious movements of the early nineteenth century, when several of the Church’s historical sites were established.
Among the most historically significant sites is Gadfield Elm Chapel. The historic meetinghouse, which predates the reign of Queen Victoria, was completed in early 1837 on land purchased for £25 (approx. £4,000 today) and is a classic example of early nineteenth-century non-conformist architecture.
“This little chapel located in the southern corner of Worcestershire stands as a memorial to the faith and sacrifice of those early converts, who made a tremendous contribution to a young church that now is found throughout the world,” said Bernard Haw, who was a missionary and historian for many years at Gadfield Elm. “The area around the chapel has changed very little since those early days, visiting the chapel one can feel what it was like to attend a meeting there in 1840. It’s a beautiful, quiet, little spot set in the English countryside.”
The building is a site of international religious significance, having been visited by early Church leaders Brigham Young and Wilford Woodruff. Many of the early converts from this period played a vital role in the Church’s establishment and growth, both in the British Isles and later in North America, where emigration helped establish settlements that shaped the early and modern United States.
This historical significance continues in Chorley in Lancashire, in the heart of an area that played a prominent role in early Latter-day Saint activity in England. Early Church leaders including Heber C. Kimball and Joseph Fielding are both known to have influenced spiritual life in the surrounding towns and villages.
Hyde Park Chapel was built in 1960 and is a quiet neighbour to the Natural History Museum in the London’s 'Museum Quarter'. Designed in a mid-century modern style, the chapel is one of the oldest purpose-built chapels still in use by the Church today and has become synonymous with its continuing and evolving presence in the British Isles.
Further south, the beautiful brick chapel in Eastbourne has been a steady and welcoming presence in East Sussex for decades, serving generations of families and contributing to the town’s community life as a former school and theological college.
Liam Montgomery, Heritage Open Days Marketing & Projects Manager, says “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is offering a wonderfully varied contribution to Heritage Open Days 2026, opening its doors to communities across the country and inviting people to discover something new. Whether visitors are interested in historic buildings, local history, family research or simply learning more about their neighbours, there is something for everyone. It’s lovely to see such a strong focus on family history and community connections which chimes so nicely with this year’s ‘Everyday Histories’ theme."
All four locations will offer free entry on selected days during Heritage Open Days, 11–20 September 2026. Full details, including specific opening times for each location, are listed at heritageopendays.org.uk.
Visitors of all ages are warmly invited to attend and discover stories about the people and places that have and continue to shape the communities around them today.