Open Churches

Open Churches (Églises ouvertes) is a heritage foundation dedicated to enhancing and opening the religious architectural heritage of recognised faiths in Belgium, Luxembourg and France. Founded in 2006 by Marc Huynen, it was inspired by similar initiatives in Finland and the United Kingdom. The foundation encourages churches and other religious buildings to welcome a wider public, providing signage, promotional materials, and a multilingual online presence. By 2007, the first publication listed 111 member buildings adhering to the foundation's charter. A non-profit association was established in 2009. The network has since grown to over 259 religious buildings. In France, three associations cover parts of the territory: Nord de France (Hauts-de-France, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and Normandie), Grand Est, and the Eure-et-Loir department. The foundation's philosophy is that churches are landmarks and often the most important building in a town or village, holding significant art and common history. With declining practising believers, many churches are only open during services, limiting access. Open Churches helps local managers open their buildings in a welcoming way, providing information and tools for discovery. Members receive an exterior plaque and banner, a page on the quadrilingual website, and a map-leaflet distributed to members and tourist offices. Additional welcome materials such as tables, custom sheets, and brochures can be ordered. The foundation also organises study days and follows new technologies for heritage access. It promotes inventory updates and security through social control rather than closed doors. Each year, on the first weekend of June, the Journées des églises ouvertes (Open Churches Days) invite members and non-members to organise events. The foundation also participates in European networks and has launched a rural development project in Flemish Brabant with EU support, called 'Églises ouvertes, trésors de nos campagnes'.

The Open Churches Foundation (Fondation Églises ouvertes) was created in 2006 by its president Marc Huynen, modelled on similar initiatives in other European countries, notably Finland and the United Kingdom. Its mission is to enhance the heritage of religious buildings of recognised faiths in Belgium, Luxembourg and France by opening them to a wider public. In 2007, the first publication mentioned 111 religious buildings that were members, adhering to the foundation's charter and listed on its website. In 2009, a non-profit association (association sans but lucratif) was founded alongside the foundation. Since its creation, more than 259 religious buildings have joined the network. In France, three associations cover parts of the territory: Nord de France (Hauts-de-France, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and Normandie), Grand Est, and the department of Eure-et-Loir. The foundation has organised study days in 2007 and 2008 focusing on the difficulties of opening religious buildings. It has also launched a project in the province of Flemish Brabant with support from the European Union, called 'Églises ouvertes, trésors de nos campagnes' (Open Churches, treasures of our countryside), aiming to increase membership and develop circuits linking churches. The foundation follows new technologies for heritage access, such as mobile internet and GPS, to help affiliated buildings present themselves professionally and innovatively. It also emphasises inventory and security, advising that a good inventory and social control through visitors are better protection than closed doors. The annual Open Churches Days (Journées des églises ouvertes) take place on the first weekend of June, inviting members and non-members to organise events. The foundation is part of a broader European movement with similar initiatives in Denmark (Vejkirke), Estonia (Roadside Churches), Finland (Open Churches), Norway (Vei Kirker), Sweden (Öppen Kyrka and Kyrko Kartan), and regional initiatives in Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and the United Kingdom.

• 2009

  Non-profit association founded

• 2007

  First publication lists 111 member religious buildings

• 2006

  Foundation created by Marc Huynen

• Network grows to over 259 religious buildings

Heritage foundation promoting public access to religious buildings

• Membership plaque and banner

  Exterior signs indicating an open and welcoming church

• Quadrilingual website listing

  Presentation of each building with photos on a website in four languages

• Map-leaflet

  Distributed to member buildings and tourist offices

• Guest books

  For adults and children

• Welcome tables and custom sheets

  Additional welcome materials that can be ordered

1. 1Open Churches official websiteopenchurches.eu
2. 2Wikidata: Open Churcheswikidata.org
3. 3Églises ouvertes - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org