Current Issue
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.
CRE Events
CRE South West at Westpoint, Exeter now rescheduled for February 23-24 2022
With a ban on large public gatherings in place for the foreseeable future, Christian Resources Exhibition have postponed CRE South West until early next year - the new dates are February 23-24 2022.
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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Stained Glass
A brief history of stained glass
The origins of the first stained glass windows are lost in history. The technique probably came from jewelry making, cloisonné and mosaics. Stained glass windows as we know them, seemed to arise when substantial church building began.
By the 10th century, depictions of Christ and biblical scenes were found in French and German churches and decorative designs found in England.
Traditional Windows
Why is repair better than replacement?
Traditional windows can often be simply and economically repaired, usually at a cost significantly less than replacement. For timber windows this is largely due to the high quality and durability of the timber that was used in the past (generally pre-1919) to make windows. Properly maintained, old timber windows can enjoy extremely long lives.
Back Issues
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.
Church Lighting
Light up your place of worship
The design of a lighting scheme and the light fittings themselves can have a positive impact on the way your building looks as well as being functional.
UK Roofing Awards
UK Roofing Awards 2020 finalists announced
The finalists for this year's The UK Roofing Awards 2020 have been announced. The NFRC will be reopening nominations later in the year for projects completed during 2020 and additional shortlisted projects will be added to create the full list of finalists for the combined 2020/21 awards event.
Live Streaming
Why live stream is now mainstream
The restrictions around the COVID-19 pandemic have led to many churches venturing into the online world in a much more comprehensive way than before. While most churches have had some kind of online presence and the Church of England has it’s a Church Near You site, the live streaming of services has become much more common. And modern AV equipment is perfectly suited to communicating via the internet.
Lead Contractors
Members offer 25 years peace of mind
The trade body that represents the leadworking industry – and guarantees quality in that industry – is the Lead Contractors’ Association (LCA). The LCA was formed in 1984 to promote quality standards in leadwork and now comprises over 70 specialist contractors committed, supported by 15 associate members who supply materials and ancillary services.
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Decorative Leadwork
Saving the artistry of early craftsmen
Beaten, twisted, cut or cast, ornate designs bear out the skill and artistry of early craftsmen. And surviving examples are under threat.
Heritage Roofing
Heritage Roofing Register - a helping hand for architects
A unique register of heritage roofing specialists is providing much needed help and assurance for architects and specifiers when working on heritage projects. The Register is the brainchild of the UK’s largest roofing trade association, the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC).
Promotional Videos
Watch the latest videos from the church & heritage sector here
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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Restoration project is a Barnstormer!
A Yorkshire Dales barn restoration that has become what judges described as “arguably one of the finest wedding barn properties in the country” has won a coveted Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) national award for ‘Best Commercial Property’.
The £2 million project to restore the 500-year-old Great Barn at Bolton Abbey, was overseen by Universal Projects, fit out specialists in the retail, office and residential sector.
Are Britain’s heritage attractions inclusive? Research finds parents with special needs children feel unwelcome
Research commissioned by specialist heritage insurer, Ecclesiastical, has revealed many parents of children with special needs feel uncomfortable or unwelcome while visiting museums, art galleries, theatres, stately homes or castles with their children.
The survey revealed more than two-fifths of parents with special needs children reported that staff or visitors were unfriendly or had made them feel uncomfortable (42%), compared to just one in five parents of children who do not have special needs (22%).
Halifax church and Worcester Cathedral get help from above for maintenance programmes
St Hilda’s Church in Halifax and Worcester Cathedral have taken part in a drone survey trial with specialist insurer Ecclesiastical.
St Hilda’s Church in Halifax participated in survey for specialist insurer Ecclesiastical, which has been trialling drone technology to help support its in house risk management team. The technology will give the insurer fresh insight and accurate data about the churches it insures, which will enable it to provide better and more specific advice to its church customers.
Choosing replacement timber windows for heritage properties
Finding appropriate sympathetic replacements for old and degraded single-glazed windows in period and listed properties can be a real challenge.
Architects, building conservation officers and owners of listed properties are often faced with an uncomfortable choice or compromise, as they seek to find a historically authentic-looking window, which also offers acceptable levels of energy efficiency and comfort for modern living.
Stone cleaning experts offer advice on care of memorials
Independent Memorial Inspection (IMI) offer the service of cleaning and conserving war memorials using only methods approved by War Memorials Trust and English Heritage. They work in tandem and liaise with In Memoriam 2014 enduring the safety of our nation's war memorials as well as with The United Kingdom National Inventory of War Memorials who keep an up to date record of all the war memorials nationally. A number of the company's clients have undertaken the operations with grants for the works which IMI carry out to the high standards required for the grants.
Safe and sympathetic access at historic house
ECEX has installed a new fabricated stair to improve access safety between roof areas at the National Trust's Polesden Lacey property located on the North Downs near Dorking, Surrey. Polesden Lacey is an Edwardian house and estate owned and run by the National Trust - it is one of the Trust's most popular properties.
ECEX completed the survey, design, fabrication and site erection of the fabricated steel stair with non-slip GRP treads, with the additional design challenges of very limited access for materials and maintaining the aesthetic of a heritage property.
Don't miss Ladies Day at CRE National 2019
It's not too late to get to CRE National 2019
Tomorrow (Thursday 17th) is your last opportunity to experience all that the Christian Resources Exhibition has to offer, including:
- Our first-ever Ladies’ Day, with special seminars addressing issues faced by women in church and society today. Special guest speakers include the Bishop of Dorking, Rt Rev Dr Jo Bailey Wells.
- Music from Marilyn Baker, Daughters of Davis and Christine Asamoah.
- The Compassion Experience - what is life like in a slum community? Find out in this eye-opening, interactive feature.
Does hydraulic lime always give us the result we want?
When talking about the use of lime, the ‘conversation’ regarding hydraulic sets must have been going on for millennia – ever since, in fact, lime mortar became a thing. Here, Harry Cursham of Vivus Solutions Ltd postulates that hydraulics aren’t all that they seem:
"Where the local limestone contains clay minerals inter alia, the lime made from it will naturally have some hydraulic properties – it is not possible to get away from that basic scientific truth. The temperature of the burn does also have an effect: hotter leads to more efficient hydraulicity; cooler (less energy) leads to less efficient hydraulicity. An interesting correlation to our modern-day efforts to reduce greenhouse gases!
Exhibition backing for top singer
The one-time Manfred Mann harmonica-playing Paul Jones had a powerful backing group as he opened the Christian Resources Exhibition at Sandown Park, Surrey on 15 October.
Early visitors to the exhibition joined in as he played and sang through the song he helped write many years ago - 5 4 3 2 1.
And he ended with a swirl on the harmonica and the crowd roaring out the five-stroke countdown to open the show.
War Memorials Trust
War Memorials Trust works to protect and conserve war memorials in the UK. The charity provides free advice to anyone as well as running grant schemes to support repair and conservation projects. You can find a range of resources on the website http://www.warmemorials.org/ to help you engage with our unique war memorial heritage. The Trust is a charity so if you support our work please consider making a donation.
Get involved with War Memorials Online to upload photos, check location, contribute condition information and add links for your local war memorial.
Long-established roofers still have what it takes
2020 will see the 150th anniversary of the well-known roofing company John Williams & Company and our first issue of next year will carry an in depth feature on the company, showcasing one of their prestigious projects on the front cover and looking at the changes they have seen throughout the last century and a half.
When the company was established in 1870, it had already seen other manifestations that could date back as far as 1822, in Bangor, North Wales. In 2004 the present company John Williams & Company (Contracting) Ltd was formed.
In the intervening years, and since, the company's craftspeople have worked on many prestigious buildings, including Tower Bridge, St James's Palace and The British Museum in London; Rochester Cathedral and Portchester Castle in the South East and many famous hotels and mansions up and down the country.
SSV helps revitalise a South London gem
Sound Space Vision is delighted that its latest project, Fairfield Halls, opened in mid-September after a three-year restoration and renovation led by MICA Architects.
After completing a feasibility study for the council-owned building in 2011, Sound Space Vision was appointed in 2016 and charged with completely replacing the performance lighting, sound, and communications infrastructure for all of the Halls’ performance spaces – the Phoenix Concert Hall, the Ashcroft Playhouse, the Arnhem Foyer, and The Rec and Talawa studios.
In the 1,800-seat Phoenix Concert Hall we focused on restoring the canopy to its original appearance for unamplified events by raising the loudspeakers, rigging and cabling through the canopy when not required. Acoustic banners have also been integrated through the auditorium to better serve amplified events.
Secret doors by Houghtons of York
Amongst the quaint and more unusual things manufactured and installed by Houghtons of York are secret or jib doors. These will very often be part of library installation projects where the company have disguised these to blend into bookcases or elsewhere into wall panelling, wardrobe doors and even simply wallpaper.
To introduce these charming and beguiling features, Houghtons produce jib doors from of a variety of materials, faux book spines plus concealed hinges and handles to produce that convincing illusion.
Marley Alutec features traditional and tudor ranges at Historic Buildings And Gardens Event
Marley Alutec, the UK leader in innovative aluminium rainwater, fascia, soffit and coping solutions, will be exhibiting at this year’s Historic Buildings and Garden Event at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre on the 12th of November (Stand D27). The company will showcase its innovative gutter and downpipe ranges, which are the ideal replacements for cast iron.
One of Marley Alutec’s most popular ranges, the Traditional aluminium gutter system will feature at the event. Manufactured to original British Standard cast iron dimensions BS8530 and available in Half Round, Victorian Ogee and Moulded Ogee profiles, the range is an ideal replacement for cast iron rainwater systems and is suitable for listed buildings and conservation areas.
The significance of picture frames
Most people whether they have artwork at home on their wall or are visiting a gallery or museum never actually realise how important the frame is to the artwork it is housing and how it adds to their enjoyment of the piece of artwork they are looking at.
Frames are not just there to protect and support the art work inside, the structure of the frame along with the design and the materials it is made from must enhance and compliment the art work that it is showcasing, but not so much so that it overpowers of takes away focus from the art.
Tudor Roof Tiles project scoops 2019 RIBA National Award
Tudor Roof Tiles Co Ltd, Britain's foremost independent handmade clay roof tile manufacturer, has supplied bespoke handmade clay roof tiles for the prestigious 2019 RIBA National Award-winning King’s College Music School, in Wimbledon.
Previously winner of a 2019 RIBA London Award, the new £10 million Music School, designed by Hopkins Architects Partnership, comprises three volumes: a triple-height 200-seater auditorium with a stage for a 70-piece orchestra, a second volume housing music teaching rooms and a large rehearsal space, plus a third volume for practice rooms and offices.
Do you want to conference, stream…or both?
For many years Exeter-based APi Sound and Visual have been installing sound and visual systems in churches in the West Country and beyond. Camera systems have often been installed to allow those in the same building to see on a big screen what is happening at the front, for example projecting close-up images of a baptism or other event to give everyone a ‘front-row’ view.
