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Heritage Roofing
Heritage roofing - maintaining our iconic buildings
The UK is home to some of the most iconic buildings in the world, from stunning churches and cathedrals to historic stately homes. Each and every one of these remarkable feats of architecture requires regular maintenance to ensure they remain in the very best condition, allowing them to be enjoyed for generations.
Cathedral Care
Restoration and upkeep of cathedrals
There are some 42 Anglican cathedrals in the UK, not to mention 20 or so Catholic cathedrals. Cathedrals form the most important collection of historic buildings in England. The largest and most ancient are internationally famous, the smallest are usually among the most significant buildings in their region and even the most recent are architectural masterpieces.
Master Craftsmen
Championing our heritage with modern craftsmanship
Twenty years ago, English Heritage (now Historic England) published its first-ever Register of Buildings at Risk across England, which featured nearly 2,000 buildings and monuments that were ‘neglected, broken and unloved’. Recently Historic England was delighted to announce that over two-thirds of those buildings were now safe, in both urban and rural areas right across the country.
Lightning Protection
When lightning strikes are you protected against this act of God?
The issue of lightning protection in churches is one that has exercised this publication for many years. In this four-part series of spotlights on the issue we will be revisiting various aspects of the subject, beginning with an overview of current thinking.
Traditional Lime
Lime: it’s better for buildings – and for the environment
It is now fairly well known that cement is not good for old buildings and that lime mortar should be used. But why? What are the advantages and what are the disadvantages? In order to begin to answer those questions it is necessary to understand the nature of traditional building, the process by which buildings used to be built, and how it differs from modern construction, the process by which we build today.
Audio Visual
Audio visual equipment in church buildings
This guidance is issued by the Church Buildings Council under section 55(1)(d) of the Dioceses, Mission and Pastoral Measure 2007. As it is statutory guidance, it must be considered with great care. The standards of good practice set out in the guidance should not be departed from unless the departure is justified by reasons that are spelled out clearly, logically and convincingly.
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LPOW Grants
£23 million government package to support restoration of thousands of listed places of worship
Heritage Minister Sir Chris Bryant has announced that the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme will be extended into the next financial year, providing £23 million so that thousands of historical buildings, including churches, synagogues, mosques and temples, can carry out restoration work.
CRE Events
Exhibitors enthuse over the CRE experience
By 4pm on the first day of CRE 24 at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, exhibitors Chris and Kim Dunphy had already had so many helpful and detailed conversations with visitors that they were “completely talked out”.
Insurance
You need to ensure that reasonable precautions are in place at your church to keep it safe for those who use it. To do this, you need to think about what might cause harm to people.
You will then need to decide if the precautions already in place are adequate. If they are not, you may need to identify further action to prevent any danger. When done formally, this is known as a risk assessment.
Church Maintenance
Church maintenance and repair: Calendar of Care
Just as prevention is always better than cure, maintenance is preferable to major repairs. But, such repairs may not always be avoidable. Church Care offers a monthly guide in our coming issues Starting in Spring
We can help you understand the common problems and areas that need your special attention, and give you tips for regular maintenance schemes.
Pest Control
Michael Palin warns of pest threat to churches
Michael Palin is supporting the future of the UK’s historic churches and chapels with a voiceover for a new animated film. The 80 second animation, produced for the National Churches Trust, highlights why churches are some of the nation’s best loved buildings.
Town Halls
The history of the great Victorian Town Halls of Northern England
From industrial squalor to civic pride, the story behind some of the most impressive buildings of the North involve a unique mix of economics, grand designs and noble sentiments within communities.
Lead Roofing
Lead is one of the oldest materials in the roofing industry and is still commonly used throughout the world today.
Lead roofing is a traditional roofing method which has been used in the industry for hundreds of years, and is therefore proven to be extremely reliable. Lead roofing, and sand-cast lead, in particular is ideal for old buildings such as churches or historical renovations, whereas milled lead roofing is a mass-produced alternative, used for precision and accuracy in homes and commercial buildings alike.
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£23 million government package to support restoration of thousands of listed places of worship
Heritage Minister Sir Chris Bryant has announced that the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme will be extended into the next financial year, providing £23 million so that thousands of historical buildings, including churches, synagogues, mosques and temples, can carry out restoration work.
The scheme gives grants towards VAT paid on repairs and renovations to the UK’s listed sites of worship, such as works to the foundations, masonry and monuments integral to the buildings.
The extension of the scheme recognises that listed places of worship represent an important part of UK heritage, and provide spaces for communities to come together.
There will be a cap of £25,000 that an organisation can claim during the year. This can still be spread across multiple claims.
Nearly £350 million has been awarded under the scheme to date, supporting listed churches, synagogues, mosques and temples across the UK.
Heritage Minister Sir Chris Bryant said: "There are many reasons to care for our faith buildings. They matter to faith communities, they provide a range of vital services to the public regardless of faith or background and many of them are architecturally stunning.
"I am delighted that despite the tough fiscal challenges we face, we are able to keep this scheme going for a further year to support faith buildings in every part of the country."
Listed places of worship of any size or faith within the UK can apply to the scheme for support with repairs and renovations until the end of March 2026.
Applicants can now complete and submit their application to the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme directly online via the website at listed-places-of-worship-grant.dcms.gov.uk/application-form/.
A downloadable version of the application form remains available for applicants who wish to complete and submit in writing, and the Welsh version of the application form can be also be accessed via the website. It is important that potential applicants check their eligibility before submitting an application. To be eligible for the scheme the place of worship must be listed with the relevant statutory listing agency. Applicants can check their listing by searching the databases at Historic England, Historic Environment Scotland, Cadw (for Wales) or the Historic Environment Division in the Department for Communities (Northern Ireland).
Listings carried out by local councils are not acceptable within the scheme. Claims will only be considered for repairs to buildings that are listed at the time the work is carried out.
In its explanation of the process, the DCMS says: “If your claim is returned because we cannot identify your listing, it does not necessarily mean that the place of worship is not listed – it may mean that the details recorded at the time of listing differ slightly to those on the application. You should return your application together with paperwork to show your listing with the relevant statutory listing agency.
“Part of our approval process is to check against the statutory records that your building is formally listed; however, if you do not know the listing grade or category you can leave that field blank in your application.”
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