Historic Harborough village church moves into the digital hi-tech age as it brings its vibrant history vividly to life

Local legend William Hanbury will be brought back to life as part of the new digital project
By Red Williams
Published 6th Apr 2021, 17:53 GMT
Updated 6th Apr 2021, 17:54 GMT
The team at St Peter’s Church in Church Langton, near Market Harborough, has spent the last 12 months taking part in the exciting digital project.The team at St Peter’s Church in Church Langton, near Market Harborough, has spent the last 12 months taking part in the exciting digital project.
The team at St Peter’s Church in Church Langton, near Market Harborough, has spent the last 12 months taking part in the exciting digital project.

An historic Harborough village church is moving into the digital hi-tech age as it brings its vibrant history vividly to life.

The team at St Peter’s Church in Church Langton, near Market Harborough has spent the last 12 months taking part in the exciting digital project.

Roz Folwell and Mark Cox have been working with the Leicester-based Documentary Media Centre and young people from the Y Heritage ‘Kick the Dust’ initiative on their new ‘Digital Persona’ blueprint.

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Digital Persona is helping museum and heritage locations across Leicestershire breathe new life into objects, artefacts and visitor attractions.

“Working with young people aged 16-25 to become ‘digital curators’, St Peter’s Church is looking forward to bringing William Hanbury to life through a new social media platform,” said the village church.

“It will share historical insights from the village’s history, run competitions for the local community and schools to engage with and compliment a wealth of local events, festivals and activities.

“This is a fantastic creative effort to dynamically engage visitors and enhance the visitor experience of both physical and digital visitors to the parish.”

Local legend William Hanbury was rector at St Peter’s from 1749–78 and he set up a charitable trust in 1767.

A horticulturalist, the clergyman was determined to generate vital funds for investment by selling his highly-valued plants and trees.

Tina Barton, director of education and engagement at the Documentary Media Centre, said: “Projects like Digital Personas are a real creative and engaging way of involving young people in Heritage, and providing venues alternatives methods of engaging audiences and enhancing their digital offer.”

You can find out more about the new project at a special ‘Zoom Information’ event taking place at 7.30pm on Monday April 12.

And you can check out Leicester’s Documentary Media Centre here: https://docmediacentre.wordpress.com/

Related topics:Market Harborough