Haworth Church

Visitors to Haworth church could soon be able to visit the crypt where two of the famous Brontë sisters are buried.

The Reverend Peter Mayo-Smith, rector of Haworth, hopes to allow access to the crypt as part of a £1.25 million repair programme at the church.
Mr Mayo-Smith said opening up the crypt could prove a major attraction to fans of the Brontë sisters' writing.
He said: "For people to actually see or feel themselves close to the Brontës would be the most amazing experience."
A plaque in Haworth church is the only sign the Brontës are buried there

Emily Brontë, writer of the torrid love story Wuthering Heights, and Charlotte Brontë, who is perhaps most famous for writing Jane Eyre, are both buried in the crypt under Haworth parish church.
The legendary literary sisters lie alongside other family members who once lived in the nearby parsonage, including their father Patrick and their infamous brother Branwell.

The Reverend Peter Mayo-Smith said the campaign to raise the money needed to repair the church was now underway.
Mr Mayo-Smith said the crypt would need some major work before visitors could be given access.
He explained: "There is a beautiful Victorian arch which at the moment is an absolute mess
"There is a huge oil tank which is redundant and then, on the other side, is where the Brontës are buried."

He said there was huge potential for opening up the crypt so tourists - many of whom come to Haworth from across the world, including from Japan and the United States - could get closer than ever to the final resting place of the two 19th century literary giants.
He said: "Potentially, we don't know yet, we are hoping to be able to see into the crypt where the sisters are buried rather than people just leaving flowers on the marker above."
Mr Mayo-Smith has launched the £1.25 million fundraising campaign, amid hopes that English Heritage might provide half the cash alongside money from Brontë enthusiasts and local businesses.

He said if the big plans for Haworth parish church came to fruition, he hoped they would help boost the economy of the popular tourist village.
He explained: "We want to make sure the church is here for another 150 years.
"If we enhance Haworth church then we can really build something good.
"That will enhance the number of visitors coming into Haworth which has the knock-on effect for all the traders of the village with more income coming into an area which, at times, is struggling."
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