1 Advice / Associated advice
Heritage, restoration and conservation
Council for the Care of Churches
English Heritage
Funds for Historic Buildings
National Amenity Societies
National Churchwatch
Arthur Rank Church and Conservation Project
Council for the Care of Churches
www.churchcare.co.uk is a 'one-stop shop' for anyone involved in the running of a church. Church Care is resourced by the Archbishops' Council, serving the parishes of the Church of England.
Objective to assist Church of England parishes in their task of maintaining their church buildings, contents and churchyards.
Supports conservation of historic church furnishings and fittings
significant churchyard monuments
Webpages A-Z of Church Maintenance
Calendar of Care
New Churchwardens
Guidance Notes
Fundraising
Security
Insurance
Books
Web www.churchcare.co.uk/
Related resource:
§ Conservation Management Plans (Guidance for Major Churches)
§ Model Major Church Conservation Management Plan (produced by the CCC for the PCC of St Mary’s priory and parish church, Totnes, Diocese of Exeter, 2007)
English Heritage
This public body is responsible for all aspects of protecting and promoting the historic environment and works in partnership with UK government departments, local authorities, voluntary bodies and the private sector.
Objective to conserve and enhance the historic environment, broaden public access to the heritage, and increase people’s understanding of the past
Address English Heritage (SE Region)
Eastgate Court
195-205 High St
Guildford
Surrey GU1 3EH
Telephone (0845) 3010 008
Web www.english-heritage.org.uk
Funds for Historic Buildings
Objective to provide a comprehensive source of advice on funding for historic buildings of all kinds, including churches.
The FFHB website was launched in 2003 to replace the 1998 printed document used by many churches.
Web http://www.fundsforhistoricbuildings.org.uk/
National Amenity Societies
Over the last century or more several voluntary societies have been established with the express purpose of preserving the art and architecture of past centuries and promoting the appreciation of such buildings and the cultures that produced them.
In recognition of the considerable expertise of these societies and the fact that their membership is a good cross-section of the informed public, the Government directed in the 1968 Town and Country Planning Act that all applications for listed building consent to demolish listed buildings in whole or in part in England and Wales should be notified to a number of named societies. This gave them the opportunity to offer comments on the proposals and to assist both the applicants and the planning authorities. The arrangement proved an effective one and still continues.
(Joint Committee, National Amenity Societies)
§ Ancient Monuments Society
The Society campaigns for historic and beautiful buildings and seeks to further the study of them.
Objective for the study and conservation of ancient monuments, historic buildings and fine old craftsmanship.
NB. In working partnership with the Friends of Friendless Churches which owns 34 disused but historically important places of worship in England and Wales.
Address St Anne’s Vestry Hall
2 Church Entry
London EC4V 5HB
Telephone (020) 7236 3934
Web www.ancientmonumentssociety.org.uk/
§ Council for British Archaeology
The CBA is concerned with archaeological evidence above and below ground, and buildings of all ages and all types
Objective to involve people in archaeology and to promote the appreciation and care of the historic environment for the benefit of present and future generations
Address St Mary's House
66 Bootham
York YO30 7BZ
Telephone (01904) 671 417
Fax (01904) 671 384
Web www.britarch.ac.uk/
§ Georgian Group
Objective to protect and preserve Georgian buildings, monuments and landscapes (late 17th century to the early 19th century), with a watching brief over earlier and later Classical buildings.
Address 6 Fitzroy Square
London W1T 5DX
Telephone (087) 1750 2936
Web www.georgiangroup.org.uk/docs/home/index.php
§ Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
This is the oldest conservation society in the English-speaking world, founded in 1877 by William Morris and others. Runs National Maintenance Week
Objective to advise on, educate about and campaign for pre-1700 buildings, construction techniques and philosophy of repair.
Address 37 Spital Square
London E1 6DY
Telephone (020) 7377 1644
Fax: (020) 7247 5296
Web www.spab.org.uk/
§ Victorian Society
Objective to study and protect Victorian and Edwardian architecture and other arts (1837–1914).
Address 1 Priory Gardens
Bedford Park
London W4 1TT
Telephone (020) 8994 1019
Fax (020) 8747 5899
Web www.victorian-society.org.uk/
§ Twentieth Century Society
Objective to safeguard the heritage of architecture and design in Britain from 1914 onwards.
Address 70 Cowcross Street
London EC1M 6EJ
Telephone (020) 7250 3857
Fax 020 7251 8985
Web www.c20society.org.uk/
§ Commonwealth War Graves Commission
NB. If your church works or purposes affect, or are likely to affect, a grave or memorial maintained by the CWGC, the petitioners should seek its agreement with the proposal. If such agreement cannot be obtained, the Chancellor will require a special notice to be served on the Commission by the Registrar, giving it the right to enter an appearance in the Consistory Court.
Objective to pay lasting tribute to the 1,700,000 men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died in the two world wars.
Web www.cwgc.org/
§ Natural England (formerly English Nature)
NB. If bats use any part of your church, and it is possible that the works or purposes might harm or disturb the bats or their roosts, the advice of English Nature should be obtained before you petition for a faculty, and the letter of advice submitted with your faculty petition.
Objective to work for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas.
Web www.naturalengland.org.uk/
Oxfordshire
Address 11 Fenlock Court
Blenheim Office Park
Long Hanborough
Oxfordshire, OX29 8LN
Telephone (01993) 886 540
Fax (01993) 886 541
Berkshire and Buckinghamshire
Address Block A Government Buildings
Coley Avenue, Coley Park
Reading
Berkshire, RG1 6DT
Telephone (0118) 958 1222
Fax (0118) 939 2120
National Churchwatch
Objective to encourage all churches to be open during daylight hours so that they can continue to be a dedicated space for public worship and a focus for events and community activities by:
§ working with dioceses, police forces and other groups
§ giving churches the confidence to deal with any crime issues they may have
§ offering clergy, volunteers and church members training in personal safety to help them deal with any threatening situation they may face
§ giving information and advice on tackling and preventing crime in your church.
Contact Nick Tolson
Address Endeavour, 8 Commercial Road
Shepton Mallet
Somerset BA4 5DH
Telephone (01749) 344 992
Mobile (07931) 353 395
Web www.nationalchurchwatch.com
Arthur Rank Church and Conservation Project
Objective to provide information resources to those managing churchyards
Established in 1987 as a joint venture between English Nature (then the Nature Conservancy Council) and the Arthur Rank Centre. Amongst several initiatives the project has established:
§ Environmental Issues Network
§ Sacred Land project
§ Living Churchyard and Cemetery Project
A package of resources aimed at the managers of churchyards. They are valuable for lichens, trees, bats and many habitats and creatures.
They also produce publications such as free leaflets on birds, bats, dry stone walls, trees and hedges, lichens and geology in churchyards.
Recently they have launched a new environmental education pack aimed at Keystage 2 of the national curriculum.
Address Arthur Rank Centre
National Agricultural Centre
Stoneleigh Park
Warwickshire CV8 2LZ
Telephone (01203) 696 969, ext. 364
Fax (01203) 414 808
Web www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk/
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