This virtual open day is streamed from Avenue St Andrew's United Reformed Church, Southampton, UK. Our event showcases the exciting research and activities from the Avenue 2020 project, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Alongside the high-level refurbishment of our turret and church archive room, we have explored themes of architecture, music, and history. Presented over eight banners and a heritage trail, our project will tell you more about:

• the music of Victorian hymn writer Isaac Watts, who is known as the ‘father of English hymnody’ and whose father was a minister in our of our parent congregations;
• the design principles of James Cubitt, the famous nonconformist architect of our church building and whose designs helped congregations to see and hear better;
• the story told in our archives of the church and local community supporting soldiers during the First World War, who passed through the Avenue before they embarked for the frontline.

If you have one, you will also be invited to use your mobile device to explore more about our church and the Avenue 2020 project through the use of QR codes and a virtual tour, including special virtual access to the turret!