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12 Jul, 2015

Find your spiritual escape with a New Phenomenon: Champing – Camping in churches

Churches Conservation Trust UK media release — Find peace with a night by candlelight in one of England’s treasured country churches, with The Churches Conservation Trust’s ‘champing’ breaks. Champers enjoy a two-day, one-night break at one of three historic churches, with the building to themselves, surrounded by rural simplicity and hundreds of years of history.

image copyright Neil Randall

Champing is the ultimate ‘slow tourism’ escape, with England’s historic churches offering their own unique havens of tranquility, a peaceful night’s sleep interrupted only by the sounds of the natural world, and time to explore the beauty of the surrounding countryside at your own pace by day.

The Churches Conservation Trust is currently offering champing at the Church of St Cyriac and St Julitta in the village of Swaffham Prior, near Cambridge, at All Saint’s Church, Aldwincle, Northamptonshire and at the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Fordwich, Kent.

Swaffham Prior destination guide

Aldwincle destination guide

Fordwich destination guide

Activities

image copyright Dave Joyner

Champing provides a truly authentic experience, a chance to commune with centuries of history of a listed building and its surroundings. Guests are given the key to their church so they can head out and enjoy the natural beauty of rural England.

Experience the world as our ancestors would have, travelling no further than the horizon and exploring on foot, dining at the local pub and soaking up the sights and sounds of the country.

Alongside the standard champing break, The Churches Conservation Trust can also arrange activities to complement your stay, including leisurely walks, canoeing adventures, storytelling and meditation. Guests can enjoy a full breakfast delivered in the morning, made using local produce.

History

Our Champing churches are living time-capsules, with stories that can be traced back as far as the Saxon period, and centuries of history to explore. They present the perfect setting to explore England’s culture, heritage and craftsmanship throughout the ages.

 

image copyright Neil Randall

Booking and Prices

Each champing adventure is just £60 per person per night, including breakfast.

Frequently asked questions about champing: http://www.visitchurches.org.uk/champing/ChampingFAQs/

See more at: http://www.visitchurches.org.uk/champing/

For more information, please contact Chana on 0782 5178 961 / champing@thecct.org.uk