A CHURCH is teaming up with local historians to give people an idea of what their community was like in the Middle Ages.

The Grade I-listed All Saints’ Church in Northallerton is hosting a medieval festival on August 1 from 10am to 4pm.

Town vicar the Reverend Fiona Mayer-Jones said: “All Saints was the centre of community life for the whole of the medieval period and is now the only building in the town remaining from that time.

“We want to celebrate that continuity and encourage local people to feel that the church still belongs them today in the same way it did then.”

The site of the old bishops’ palace and other medieval remains in the town will be explored in walking tours which will start from the church every hour.

There will be a chance to visit the bellringing chamber and to see the bells in the church’s 15th-century tower.

Pride of place in the displays will be taken by a Norman grave slab, carved around 1150, which was only identified in 2003 and has never previously been properly displayed

Peter Harbord, who leads the group organising the event, said “This is high quality art and local history combined in a single object, and something for the whole town to take delight in.”

For youngsters there will be an interactive archaeology exhibit as well as opportunities to try archery and play medieval music.

For details visit cofe-northallerton.org.uk