Current Issue
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.
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.
Read More...
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.
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.
SEARCH OUR DIRECTORY
Edith Cavell's new grave dedicated at Norwich Cathedral
A poignant service was held at Norwich Cathedral on Sunday 15 May, when the new grave of executed First World War nurse, Edith Cavell, was blessed and dedicated.
Edith, who was born in Swardeston in Norfolk, was executed by a German firing squad on October 12, 1915, after helping Allied prisoners escape to Holland.
New company that saved Architectural Ceramics Skills scoops Business Award
Architectural terracotta and faience specialist, Darwen Terracotta has triumphed at the Hive Blackburn and Darwen Business Awards, winning the Newcomer Award. Finalists were joined by dignitaries, sponsors, judges and supporters at an exclusive black-tie event held at Blackburn Cathedral where the winners were announced and celebrated on stage.
Steve Allan, operations director at Darwen Terracotta, said, “This win is for the whole team and everyone who helped set up the business. It is a massive thank you to all 25 of our staff and their hard work over the last six months so we are really proud.”
North Cornwall chapel gets 55" Smart Screen and new sound system
South-West based Kernow Installations Limited have just completed an audio-visual installation in a renovated chapel in Wadebridge which has now become the new home for R.J. Bray Funeral Directors.
The installation required a stylish architecturally sensitive audio visual system for both the chapel used for services and the overflow room on the first floor. A 55″ Smart screen shows an HD quality image of service proceedings downstairs via a Dahua eyeball camera.
Traditional ironworker boosts sales through launch of online store
A traditional craft business which uses artisan tools and techniques dating back thousands of years has launched its own online shop.
Nigel Tyas Ironworks, which still fires and works metal following the same principles developed in the Iron Age, has embraced e-commerce and digital marketing to reach more customers and boost trade.
Electronic gates give extra security for church and heritage properties
Lancashire based TSB Ironcraft, who have been making quality wrought iron gates since 1990, can also install electronic systems for both swing gates and sliding gates to give extra security to church and heritage properties. All the systems they install come with a full two year warranty, subject to service.
The kits for swing gates come in two types. With the underground kit, the motor is fitted in a galvanized box and then concreted in and then the gate is welded to a shoe and hung from the top hinge. With the 'ARM' kit, you can have a normal pair of gates that have been hung in the usual way, then the arms are fixed behind the pillars and a bracket welded to the gate.
How to repair Cast Iron Guttering
Rainclear Systems has been in the business of providing customers with high quality Cast Iron Rainwater products and a high quality of advice and service for over 10 years and are often asked how to cut or drill Cast Iron Guttering.
Traditional Cast Iron Guttering was chosen for its durability as well as beauty. But this toughness, that makes it last 100+ years, does not make it hard to work with. The system is made of components so, though it is still often a two man job to install, the components can be replaced as needed, while others can often be renovated, restored and reinstated.
Victorian orangery at Holywell Park restored by Dorothea Restorations
Holywell Park dates back to medieval times and in 2013 Ipswich Council received a substantial grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the Park. Some of this was used to restore the Grade II listed Victorian orangery which had been boarded up for many years.
Dorothea Restorations undertook the restoration of all timberwork, wrought iron and the reinstatement of historic crown glass within the structure.
UK Roofing Awards 2016 - winners revealed
The winners of the UK Roofing Awards were announced at a ceremony hosted by BBC’s Steph McGovern at the Hilton London Metropole on Friday 13th May 2016.
The winners are:
Cornish talent shines through as Tim Fuge scoops Young Leadworker of the Year at the UK Roofing Awards 2016
Tim Fuge, a self-employed leadworker from Liskeard, Cornwall was crowned Young Leadworker of the Year 2016 at a prestigious ceremony in Central London on 13th May. The competition, now in it fifth year and run by the Lead Sheet Association, is open to leadworkers around the UK under 30 years of age.
The advantages of steel over plastic are becoming increasingly obvious
In an industry often driven by price Rainclear Systems, online retailer and the UK’s leading distributor of metal guttering and downpipe products, has not compromised on quality.
In contrast to inferior and less eco-friendly PVCu the Galvanised steel rainwater system supplied by Rainclear is highly durable, made from a high percentage of recycled metal and 100% recyclable at end of life.
In the midst of things – that’s the legacy of the East Midlands
It is perhaps a little-known fact that the region in England we think of the as the loose conglomeration of the East Midlands actually has an official identity: it is one of the regions of the UK recognised by the EU as one of Europe’s Level One “nomenclatures d'unités territoriales statistiques”, or NUTS. Officially, the East Midlands comprises Derbyshire, Leicestershire, most of Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland.
Historically, of course, the East Midlands region is much more than a device of the EU to find convenient parcels to divide Europe into. Many of England’s strategic decisions have been taken there – often on the battlefield, but also diplomatically. Richard III fell there – the last English king to lead his troops into battle.
Church furnishing specialist Rosehill aim to raise £3,000 to support fight against cancer
This June a team of 9 adventurous, courageous and tenacious individuals from Rosehill Furniture Group shall attempt the National Three Peaks Challenge to raise funds for two very special charity causes that are close to our hearts.
Help them in their quest to complete the challenge and raise an amazing £3000 in aid of The Christie and Action on Womb Cancer. The funds raised will be split equally between the two charities so please support the challenge and give generously.
The end of the pew? How stacking chairs and seating are favoured in churches today
For the first 1500 years of the Church’s life, pews were extremely rare. In most medieval Churches for example, people stood or sat on the floor with only a narrow bench around the edge of the building for eating. Some Churches never even got around to installing pews and in Eastern Orthodox Churches in Russia and Greece worshippers still stand today!
Pews render the space in Churches virtually unusable for anything other than two hour long events a week. A recent survey found that pews effectively exclude 90% of people who are not regular attendees of services.
Regeneration of Grade II listed estate shortlisted for Roofing Awards 2016
Last December saw the completion of the regeneration scheme at the Byker Wall Estate in Newcastle and the project has been shortlisted for the Roofing Awards 2016 in the Solar category.
Work first started in block stages in August 2014, to the Grade II listed estate that was formed in the late 1960s, replacing the former Victorian housing. The community benefitted from major investment in the estate made by the Byker Community Trust.
Church gutters - the do’s and don’ts
The problem with most church gutters is that they are hard to get to, they were often under-designed in the first place, and there isn't the money or able bodied volunteers around to clear them out.
Dr Malcolm Wearing BEng PhD CEng MICE MCIWEM, a consultant at CRM Rainwater Drainage Consultancy Ltd, is particularly aware of these challenges, as aside from his professional life, he is involved in the leadership of a team of churches with two listed buildings and another two Victorian buildings with significant challenges.
Heritage Watch is coming to York
The inaugural meeting of York Heritage Watch was held at the Stained Glass Centre at St Martin Cum Gregory Church, Micklegate, York on Thursday 18th February. The meeting was chaired by Trace-in-Metal managing director John Minary, and was co-hosted by Police Community Support Officer Kayleigh Rae of North Yorkshire Police, York City Centre Policing Team.
Rainclear Introduce Dflow – a deeper aluminium gutter - better in wetter weather
As Britain braces itself for more of the unpredictable weather conditions experienced in recent years, Rainclear has responded by adding NEW Dflow to its comprehensive and high quality rainwater systems.
Dflow is a higher capacity, deeper, beaded half round extruded aluminium gutter, available in a 125 x 100mm size, to suit either traditional or modern buildings in areas and conditions of higher rainfall.
VISIT OUR ASSOCIATED SITES
