DUDLEY’S Top Church will host a family fun day event this Saturday (July 9) as part of the Black Country Festival.

Officially known as St Thomas & St Luke's Church, the venue will be home to the ‘What’s at the top?’ event, where people can make top hats, handle birds of prey, learn craft skills and find out more about the history and inspiring stories of the church.

The Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Mohammed Hanif, will also be at the open event which will run from 10.30am until 4pm – including a free soup lunch between 1pm and 2.30pm where people can share their ideas and thoughts on the future of the historic building.

Cllr Hanif said: “I am looking forward to seeing Top Church being used for this community event and learning about its history.

“The church is extremely popular with the local community and I will be interested to see what people have to say.”

In June, the church was awarded a grant of £181,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund’s (HLF) Grants for Places of Worship.

Canon Andrew Wickens, of Top Church, said: “Top Church is one of Dudley town's most beautiful and treasured places.

“We want to listen to what local people have to say, both about what St Thomas's means for them, and to hear fresh ideas about its future, both as a place of worship and as a community space.

“Whether you've been many times or you've never been inside Top Church before, What's at the Top? should prove an inspiring day and we'd love to see you – just pop by.”

‘What’s at the Top?’ is funded by HLF and the church has appointed the Churches Conservation Trust – the national charity protecting historic churches at risk – to help run the event.