A Kidderminster heritage group is set to host a ‘fact-finding’ bus tour exploring historic local churches.

The Heritage Opportunities Group (HOGS) will take guests on a trip through the town stopping off at St Ambrose Church on Coventry Street before going onto the Sacred Heart Church in Droitwich and St Mary’s Church in Harvington.

The three churches are rich in history with St Ambrose being built in 1858 when Father Ambrose Courtney was priest. At one time there were two convents operating at the parish until they closed in the late 20th century.

The Sacred Heart Church in Droitwich is a Grade 2 listed building with the foundation stone laid in 1919 when the architects set out to capture the spirit of early Christian basilicas in Rome and Ravenna.

The site contains stunning mosaics which are considered to be some of the finest in England.

St Mary’s Church in Harvington was opened four years before the Catholic Emancipation in 1825. It is the earliest example of a Catholic church in the district with worshippers having to go to Harvington Hall for mass in the years before it was built.

The bus tour is being held on Saturday September 30 and costs £25 to attend.

Those wanting to take part can board the bus at Broadwaters at 10am. There will be a tea and coffee break at Droitwich with passengers returning from Harvington at 4pm.

Tickets are available at John Beard’s ironmongers in Bridge Street, Kidderminster, or from the Rose Theatre by calling 01562 743745 or visiting rosetheatre.co.uk