HUDDERSFIELD Parish Church is hoping to turn itself into a tourist attraction.

The Wakefield Diocese, which runs the church, is trying to draw visitors into all its churches.

And the Vicar of Huddersfield, the Rev Catherine Ogle, is right behind the idea.

She said: "You don't have to be religious come to church. We get people coming for all sorts of reasons. People like to see beautiful buildings. We are just pleased they come."

Mrs Ogle says the church contains a wealth of information about Huddersfield's history.

"There a lot of things people don't know about the church. It holds a history of the town," she said.

There has been a church on the site for nearly a millennium.

The first was a Norman church, built in 1100 by wealthy landowner Walter de Laci.

The first official vicar came to Huddersfield in 1216.

In 1503, the church was rebuilt in Tudor style, but by 1830 it had fallen into disrepair.

An industrial boom and a resurgence of religion in Victorian Huddersfield meant people wanted a new church.

Architect James Pritchett, who also designed Huddersfield railway station, was chosen to rebuild St Peter's.

He created the crypt and extended the nave and tower at a cost of £10,000. But the outside stonework was laid wrongly and erosion has plagued the building ever since.

Today's church has relics of its three incarnations.

There is carved Tudor panelling in the gallery level and an Elizabethan font dating from 1570.

The ornate wooden font cover dates from 1640 and miraculously survived being destroyed by Puritans, who thought it was too decorative.

Other features include a Huddersfield-built 1908 Conacher organ and a large golden baldachino - a pillared canopy - which covers the high altar.

This was created in the early 20th century by Scottish architect John Ninian Comper, who also designed a stained glass window behind it.

Both features are in memory of those who died in the First World War.

One of the most famous vicars of Huddersfield was the Rev Henry Venn, who was here from 1759 to 1771.

He was unusually tolerant. He

even invited Methodist leader John Wesley to preach at St Peter's.

The most recent addition to the church is the Keys Cafe in the crypt.

Mrs Ogle said: "We are looking for modern uses of the church. We want to look after visitors better."

Planned changes include using the gallery level as an educational area for visiting children.

An appeal will be launched within the next year to pay for improved disabled access.

Mrs Ogle added: "We are open seven days a week because closed buildings encourage vandals."