One of Britain’s greatest engineers will be commemorated at a special open day taking place at Holy Trinity Church in Chesterfield on Wednesday 12 August 2026.
The event marks the 178th anniversary of the death of George Stephenson, the pioneering engineer known around the world as the “Father of Railways”.
Stephenson spent the final years of his life in Chesterfield and is buried inside Holy Trinity Church on Newbold Road. Yet many people living in the area remain unaware that the final resting place of the man whose work helped transform transport, industry and modern society is right on their doorstep.
The open day, which runs from 10am until 4pm, will give visitors the opportunity to see Stephenson’s grave and discover more about his remarkable life and achievements through information panels, exhibition displays and a selection of artefacts.
Visitors will also be able to see the continuing transformation of Holy Trinity into a more welcoming and accessible heritage destination celebrating Chesterfield’s railway and industrial history.
The improvements form part of a major initiative supported by a £240,600 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, alongside additional backing from EMR, CrossCountry Rail, the Raymond Ross Fund, Graysons Solicitors and Holy Trinity Church itself.
Made possible thanks to National Lottery players, the project is helping Holy Trinity develop its role as both a place of worship and a visitor attraction. New facilities, displays and activities will allow the church to share the stories of George Stephenson, railway engineering and Chesterfield’s industrial development with schools, residents, tourists and railway enthusiasts.
Neil Anderson Media has been supporting the project’s communications, helping shape its central narrative and promote Holy Trinity’s growing importance as a heritage destination.
Heritage communications is about much more than publicising individual events. It involves finding the human stories behind historic places, presenting them in ways that feel relevant today and giving people a compelling reason to engage with the past.
The anniversary open day provides a particularly powerful opportunity to do that. It connects an internationally significant figure with a specific Chesterfield location while inviting people to see how investment in heritage is creating something valuable for the future.
George Stephenson’s achievements changed the world. Holy Trinity’s continuing transformation will help ensure that his connection to Chesterfield is better understood, celebrated and shared with generations to come.
The special open day takes place at Holy Trinity Church, Newbold Road, Chesterfield, on Wednesday 12 August 2026, from 10am until 4pm.
Admission is free, everyone is welcome and refreshments will be available throughout the day.
More information is available from www.holytrinityandchristchurch.org.