A CHURCH wants to secure its financial future by creating a cafe and tourist centre to commemorate a key historic battle.

St Mary’s Church in Westonzoyland has unveiled plans to attract national and international visitors.

The church played a part in the Battle of Sedgemoor and already has a visitor centre in space created by the removal of pews, where visitors can see exhibits and a film of a battle re-enactment.

Now the church wants to install a cafe and bring in staff to promote the ancient site and its important place in history in the hope the centre will take off as a tourist attraction and bring in money for the church.

The Battle of Sedgemoor took place on July 6, 1685 and lasted barely five hours but had far-reaching consequences. Some 500 prisoners, many wounded, were kept in the church overnight following the battle in the village.

It was the final conflict of the Monmouth Rebellion and followed a series of violent conflicts around South-West England between the forces of James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, and troops loyal to James II.

The church has a long list of repairs to the nave roof, inside plasterwork and heating, with the total bill for improvements about £890,000.

Vicar of St Mary’s, the Rev Chris Keys, said: “We would like to expand the visitor centre side of things and provide a cafe and kitchen, as well as have a manager and other people there to make more of the important heritage of the area.

“We want it to be a much bigger operation. It is a big church that houses 200 people and we think there is scope to have it well used by villagers and tourists.”

More about the history of St Mary’s Church and its connection to the Battle of Sedgemoor can be found on the Zoyland Heritage website, which also has details of how to give to the project.