Why Not Go to Church Three Times This Weekend?
Most weekends, going to church once might feel like plenty. But during Heritage Open Days 2026, we’re inviting you to make an exception – and go three times ! Two of Tavistock’s most distinctive churches are offering special opportunities to step inside, each with its own story to tell.
Saturday: Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Assumption & St Mary Magdalene
On Saturday 19th September (11am – 3pm) the Catholic Church on Callington Road throws open its doors. Built in the 1860s by Gothic Revival architect Henry Clutton, it’s a striking Grade II* listed landmark, with graceful arches and fine detailing commissioned by the 8th Duke of Bedford.
The church was built for the mining families drawn to Tavistock during the boom of the Devon Great Consols mines – a reminder that the town’s faith and industry have long been intertwined. Parishioners will be on hand to share its living history, so visitors can see both the craftsmanship of the building and the spirit of the community that still gathers there today.
Saturday : St Eustachius’ Guided Tours
Also on Saturday 19th September, you can explore Tavistock’s medieval parish church with expert guides. Dedicated to St Eustachius and dating back over 700 years, this beautiful building has been at the heart of the town since the 14th century. Its soaring nave, intricate carvings, and historic organ (with a special connection to composer S.S. Wesley) make it a jewel of local heritage.
The guided tours reveal layers of history – from medieval stonework to Victorian additions – and highlight how the church has evolved alongside Tavistock itself. For those who’ve only ever admired it from the outside, this is your chance to unlock its stories and details.
Why not do both?
This year’s national Heritage Open Days theme is “Buildings, Bridges and Beehives”, an invitation to explore the structures that have shaped communities. What better way to celebrate than by visiting two churches, each built for very different reasons but both serving as enduring landmarks of Tavistock’s story?
So why not go to church twice this weekend? On Saturday, step inside the Catholic Church to see how faith met industry in the 19th century. On Sunday, wander through centuries of history at St Eustachius. Together they offer a unique window into Tavistock’s past, present, and future.
📍 Our Lady of the Assumption & St Mary Magdalene – Saturday 20 September, 11am–3pm
📍 St Eustachius’ Church Guided Tours – Saturday 20 September 10:30 and 15:00
🎟️ Both events are free as part of Heritage Open Days
👉 Full details of over 40 free events at: heritageintavistock.org/tavistock-heritage-open-days
Sunday: Haydn's Creation
Few moments in choral music are more dramatic than Haydn’s depiction of the creation of light.
The work begins almost mysteriously, as Haydn attempts to portray the formless chaos before creation. Then comes one of music’s great theatrical surprises as darkness is suddenly shattered by the arrival of light.
When The Creation was first performed publicly in Vienna in 1799, audiences were captivated.
More than two centuries later, its ability to surprise, uplift and exhilarate remains undiminished.
Haydn fills his musical universe with wonderfully vivid pictures. We hear the sunrise, rushing waters and rolling seas. Birds take flight, animals appear and the natural world gradually awakens.
It is music that invites you to see as well as hear.
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