Our rich programme aims to provide opportunities for both new and existing visitors to experience the heritage of the church through live interactions.
It is fantastic to be welcomed into a church as a visitor and get to enjoy its heritage.
Most events are free: a donation from every visitor helps us enormously.
Some events are ticketed: ticket sales income helps us to sustain the programme.
Please come back regularly to this page to check for updates.
Hidden Spaces Tours
Saturday 9 & 23 November 2024, 11.45am
Saturday 7 & 21 December 2024, 11.45am
Saturday 4 & 18 January 2025, 11.45am
Saturday 1 & 15 February 2025, 11.45am
Saturday 1, 15 & 29 March 2025, 11.45am
Saturday 15 April 2025, 11.45am
Join our knowledgeable Tour Guides to discover spaces usually closed to the public and hear about the colourful lives of those who served and worshipped in this amazing space. Peer into the crypt’s vault and imagine how these would have looked 200 years ago and get a 360-degree view of the church and its suspended ceiling – the largest in Europe when built in the early 18th century – from the galleries.
Ticket £9, book
here on Eventbrite
Untold Stories: Women in St Alfege Tour
Saturday 8 February 2024, 2.15pm
Saturday 8 March 2024, 11.45am
Saturday 26 April 2024, 2.15pm
Join us to hear the fascinating stories of women connected to St Alfege Church and the role they played through the centuries – from organists to bellringers, from scientists to suffragettes. Get a unique chance to visit the bell ringing chamber and take a closer look at rare historic manuscripts from the church’s archive.
Tickets £9, booking details coming soon
The Unseen: Spotlights on the Archive
Come and enjoy bi-monthly spotlights on the church’s archive, bringing to the foreground hidden stories and characters connected to St Alfege Church. Don't miss the chance to see an original receipt for bellringing dating 1806, currently on display in the Chapel of our Lady with St Paul (South Chapel) and enjoy.
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October - November 2024: Bellringers
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December 2024 - January 2025: It's Christmas time
Image: payment received by local victualler Francis Cofield for the provision of Sacrament Wine, 1808. St Alfege Church's archive.
Free Children's Heritage Trail
Available through the year during opening times
Calling all young people and their families! Take a step back in time and discover more than 1000 years of history with our free resources for families. Go on a special mission, explore the church, complete the trail and get an explorer’s stamp!
Drop-in, no need to book. Ask one of our friendly volunteers. Free, donations welcome
Heritage Open Days
12 - 21 September 2025. Please come back regularly to check for updates.
Join us during England’s largest festival of history and culture! Come and celebrate our heritage through a rich programme of free tours.
Free, donations welcome
Crypt Open Days
Dates to be confirmed. Please come back regularly to check for updates.
Peer into the crypt's vaults and imagine how these would have looked 200 years ago. Discover spaces usually closed to the public and hear about the colourful lives of those who served and worshipped in this amazing space.
Free,
donations welcome. Drop-in, no booking required.
Reclaiming Narratives: commonly called by the name of Esther Smith
Please come back regularly to check for updates.
Reclaiming Narratives: commonly called by the name of Esther Smith takes inspiration from an original document at Lambeth Palace Library: 'Petition from Esther Smith, a slave, to Archbishop Secker, 19 July 1760'. In this petition, Esther asked to be baptised at St Alfege Church, but her enslaver opposed her baptism.
Taking the story of Esther Smith as a springboard for conversation and reflection, two acclaimed Writers/Artists will lead a 2-days free creative writing workshops each. Participants will produce original poems, which will be published in a booklet and presented in a celebration event in September, open to everyone.
Join acclaimed writers/artists Kandace Siobhan Walker and Highwater Ell in 2-days creative writing workshops inspired by the stories of Black people connected to St Alfege Church through the centuries. Be inspired by the stories that will be uncovered and the conversations that will be shared around them.
Creative Writing Workshop with Writer/Artist Kandace Siobhan Walker
Saturday 5 and Saturday 12 April 2025, 11am to 3pm
St Alfege Church, Choir Vestry
Creative Writing Workshop with Writer/Artist Highwater Ell
Saturday 14 and Saturday 21 June 2025, 11am to 3pm
St Alfege Church, Choir Vestry
Free, limited spaces, booking required. Please Please come back regularly to check for updates.
Funded by the Royal Borough of Greenwich for Black History 365
