A CHURCH near Stourport is throwing open its doors - not for the usual reasons of a special service or a coffee morning - but in the name of art.

All Saints Church at Wilden, is holding its first ever open day as part of a national move to make the many wonderful art works which lie largely hidden in locked churches more accessible.

And the 100 strong congregation has more reason than most to be proud, with the building housing an "almost unique" set of stained glass windows, a full set of no less than 14 windows inspired by the legendary 19th century artist Edward Burne-Jones.

Churchwarden Pam Craven said: "Today many churches are locked for security reasons and this means that the great works of art they often hold are hardly ever seen.

"We have two vicars - the Rev Barry Gilbert and the Rev Jane Speck - and they are both very proud of the windows and want more people to see them."

She said she believed the windows were "almost unique" and Wilden might be the only church in the country lucky enough to have a full set.

They were created at All Saints, between 1902 and 1914, after the death of Burne-Jones and his close collaborator William Morris, following his original drawings.

It was because of a family link to Burne-Jones via Stourport's Baldwin family that the intensely coloured windows full of natural detail such as flowers and foliage came into being.

The open days at the church on Wilden Lane will go ahead this Saturday and on Saturday, December 4 between 10am and 2pm.

There will be coffee and cakes and a bring and buy stall. Parking is available.