Churches Visitor & Tourism Association Conference & AGM

Welcome to the Churches Visitor & Tourism Association Conference & AGM!

Join us for two days of networking, learning, and collaboration in Cardiff.

Connect with fellow church representatives, tourism professionals, and others to share insights and best practice. Don't miss this opportunity to be a part of shaping the future of church tourism.

Everyone from any church or chapel, or an organisation working with them anywhere in the UK and Ireland is very welcome.

Find the most up to date details on our website: https://www.churchtourism.org.uk/agm-reunion-2026

• Sir Robert Buckland, Church Estates Commissioner and chair of the Bishoprics and Cathedrals Committee and the Mission, Pastoral and Church Property Committee on supporting historic places of worship at the heart of our communities
• Rachel Morley, Director of the Friends of Friendless Churches on her new book, Church Crawling (Penguin), in which explains the joy of visiting churches and explains how they bring people and history to life in colourful, moving and unexpected ways
• Gareth Simpson of the National Churches Trust on using places of worship creatively to earn income and engage with the wider community
• Revd Rebecca Sparey, Mission Area Leader in Denbigh Mission Area, on empowering volunteers
• Sarah Perons on the growth of pilgrimage and new routes in Bangor Diocese
• Susan Fielding and Beck Edwards on the Welsh Royal Commission’s Capeli Cyrmu project, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to carry out a national audit of the status of chapels in Wales and promote examples of benign reuse
• Anastazia Thomas, Heritage & Community Officer with the St Elvans Community Heritage Trist on the transformation of St Elvans, Aberdare, known as ‘The Cathedral of the Valleys’, into a community resource combining concerts, festivals, exhibitions, heritage tours and the Spires coffee shop with an active place of worship

Friday 16 October (optional add-ons)

• Walking tour of Cardiff churches (car travel available for those with limited mobility) - FREE BUT MUST BE BOOKED
• Evensong - please let us know if you might come along, so we can let the Cathedral know of a large group
• Meal at a restaurant in Cardiff city centre - TO BE PAID FOR BY ATTENDEES

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Saturday 17 October

Presentations from expert speakers on subjects including:

• Heritage and tourism in Wales
• Pilgrimage and faith tourism
• The future of places of worship in Wales

There will be a charge of £17.50 per person (plus Eventbrite booking fee), including refreshments and a buffet lunch.

Images:

• The National Eisteddfod 2018 Cardiff by Wales News Service (Crown Copyright Licencing Agreement)
• Coastal Path Sign & Holy Cross Mwnt by Aled Llywelyn (Crown Copyright Licencing Agreement)

Info: An optional tour of three or four churches in Cardiff. FREE to attend but must be booked.

Info: Join us for an optional informal meal. Costs to be covered individually.

Info: 10am for 10.30am start - coffee on arrival - agenda to follow.

Event venue & nearby stays

Trinity Centre, Piercefield Place, Cardiff, United Kingdom

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.

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