A TINY church overlooking the River Till is offering visitors a chance to do something truly out of the ordinary this summer – spend the night inside a historic place of worship as part of a national anniversary celebration.

The Churches Conservation Trust (CCT) is marking ten years of Champing – the quirky experience that allows guests to stay overnight in some of England’s most beautiful and historic churches.

One of the standout locations is St Andrew’s Church in Rollestone, a flint-built medieval gem just a short distance from Stonehenge.

Once associated with the Knights Hospitaller, the church is known for its distinctive chequerboard stonework and peaceful setting overlooking the River Till.

For visitors, it offers more than just a bed for the night. Guests – known as ‘Champers’ – can switch off from modern life and experience centuries of history in near silence, waking up surrounded by stained glass, stone arches and ancient craftsmanship.

Stay overnight in England’s most beautiful and historic churches.

The church is also ideally placed for exploring the wider area with walking routes through ancient landscapes, guided tours, jeep safaris and even skydiving all available nearby.

Champing was first created in 2016 by Chana James, Trust communications manager, following an experimental overnight stay hosted for a group of scouts.

“Champing had humble beginnings,” she said. “Of course, it all started out as an overnight event for a group of scouts in Northamptonshire.

“But that planted the idea in our minds, and we began to wonder if it had the potential to become something bigger.

“When I introduced the idea for the first time to some of our church communities, I received a very mixed response. Some reacted positively, while others were incredulous.

“When we opened our first churches for regular bookings, I remember lying awake at night, wondering what the guests were thinking. Were they sleeping soundly, or struggling to drift off in the vast stillness of our churches? I could never have imagined how deeply people would resonate with Champing.”

A chance to switch off from modern life.

Now, a decade on, the experience has grown into a national and international attraction, offering everything from romantic getaways to group celebrations.

To mark the tenth anniversary, Champing is offering a 25% group discount for bookings of eight or more, along with a new stackable 25% discount on a second night stay.

Bookings can be made via the Champing website or by emailing champing@thecct.co.uk