A thousand years of church history will be on show at a "Historic Welton: Church Open Day" at St Helen's, Welton in the East Riding on Saturday 9th September between 12.00 noon and 4.00pm.

Members of the church and Welton Memorial Club will be present to talk about a range of historical documents and artefacts not usually on public view including mediaeval coffin plates and grips (pictured) found when an ancient crypt or burial vault under the chancel floor was excavated in 2005, as well as the church's stained glass windows by Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris.

The crypt has now been filled in to prevent the chancel floor sinking again but there will be photos on display of the work being carried out.

St Helen's is thought to date from the eleventh century; in the 1860s it was extensively restored by famous Gothic Revival architect George Gilbert Scott, at a cost of £6,000 funded by a Miss Broadley. One of the exhibits on display will be the family bible, given to the church last year, of the Harrison-Broadley family who were major land owners in East Yorkshire until the Second World War and lived in Welton.

Memorabilia and refreshments will be on sale and there will be a few tours exploring the church tower - with the last tour at 3:30pm (limited space).

The event will be topped-off by a barbecue and treasure hunt together with 'splat-the-rat' and a comedy photo-booth.

Vicar of Welton with Melton, the Revd Canon Elaine Bielby said, "Welton village is a picturesque space on the edge of the Yorkshire Wolds, and well worth a visit in its own right - we hope to see you there."