English Heritage, as part of its Heritage at Risk programme, is carrying out the first national survey of Places of Worship at Risk.
On 30th June EH will announce the results of a sample survey that offers an insight into the condition of England’s listed religious heritage to find out how many buildings are at serious risk of decay.
To widen its research and to improve its understanding of how it can best help congregations to help themselves, English Heritage invites anyone with an interest in their local historic church or other place of worship to tell them of their challenges and successes and answer a few simple questions on its website
www.english-heritage.org.uk/powar.
Most listed places of worship are Church of England (85%). Others are Catholic parish churches, Methodist, Baptist, United Reformed Church and other Nonconformist chapels, Quaker meeting houses, synagogues, mosques, temples and gurdwaras as well as a number of buildings now used by faith groups but previously built as schools, cinemas or shops.
Research has involved looking at a representative 10% sample of listed places of worship of all kinds across the country. In addition, English Heritage is inviting congregations to take part in discussions to find out what really matters to them about their place of worship and what they really need to help them turn what some see as a burden into a building in which they can take pride and joy.
Based on the results of all this research, and in partnership with a wide range of faiths, denominations and heritage groups, English Heritage will publish a practical guide bringing basic information on looking after your building into a single leaflet for all faiths. Much valuable information already exists but the guide will be an easy first step to finding it, for example on the Church of England’s www.churchcare.co.uk and via other partners’ publications, websites and telephone help lines. Reflecting the main concerns of congregations, the guide will point people towards help with maintenance, fundraising, welcoming visitors, widening use, making changes, security and sustainability.
English Heritage hopes that this leaflet will reach as many listed places of worship and interested individuals as possible and everyone who signs up on the website will get one.
To ensure you receive a practical guide to looking after a listed place of worship, sign up at www.english-heritage.org.uk/powar
