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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.
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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CRE Events
After the Midlands, onward to Milton Keynes
"CRE Midlands reminded me of the giddy days when it first began – the venue was packed with exhibitors and visitors and there was a busy atmosphere. The whole thing looked great."
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.
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A guide to church av systems by MPB Sound and Light
The purpose of this article is to help churches through the process of exploring the options for church av systems, and drawing up a specification to send out for quotations.
We have a dedicated article about choosing the right wireless microphones for you and we also have two free online courses for anyone new to sound systems written with churches in mind.
Leaded light restoration at 15th century Yelford Manor
The tranquil rural hamlet of Yelford, 13 miles from Oxford city centre, is one of the smallest in Oxfordshire, yet, according to Pevsner, boasts ‘the best and certainly the most picturesque large timber-framed house in the county’. That house is the wonderfully atmospheric, Grade II listed, late-15th-century Yelford Manor.
Bowman’s Stained Glass was awarded the contract in 2010, for full restoration of over 100 Leaded Lights.
Tour guides and training are the keys to special needs heritage access
The findings of the research commissioned by Ecclesiastical into the experience of parents of children with special needs resonates with our own extensive work in this sector.
Hull-based About Access Ltd have considerable experience of assessing the accessibility of museums, stately homes, churches and other buildings of historic interest, taking an inclusive approach to a sector which is growing in popularity and significance.
Long experience leads to a unique appreciation of today’s lighting needs
Located in the heart of the UK in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, Lighting Dynamics UK have recently expanded their development as one of the UK’s premier companies specialising in the interior and exterior lighting of cathedrals, churches and other places of worship across all religious denominations.
Since its conception, Lighting Dynamics UK has established a reputation for creating practical and architecturally sympathetic lighting schemes. Wherever possible, discreet lighting equipment is specified and installed to produce suitable levels of illumination and to highlight both ecclesiastical details and any special architectural features.
Careful consideration of options lights the way for Wirral church
St Bridget’s Parish Church in West Kirby has been a place of worship for over 1,000 years, reaching back to the time when Norse settlers occupied the Wirral peninsula – the Viking hogback stone in the south aisle is evidence of that.
The Grade Two-listed church was substantially rebuilt and restored in 1869/70 by Chester architects Kelly and Edwards. At that time fine fittings were added, such as stained glass windows by Kempe.
Yeoman Rainguard plays a part in bringing listed mansion house back to former glory
A grade II listed Mansion on the outskirts of Ulverston, Cumbria, has respectfully been restored and developed by housebuilders, Charles Church, Lancashire.
As a way of protecting the future of the mansion, planning permission was granted for it to be converted into 19 apartments and the gatehouse into a bungalow.
Charles Church ensured that the conversion work carried out was sympathetic to the Scottish baronial style whilst respecting the original features.
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.
Light levels
Uniformly bright lighting throughout your historic place of worship will generally not be appropriate. Historically, interiors were lit by daylight and supplemented by candles, oil or gaslight. Many spaces within historic architecture were not intended to be lit. Illuminating features such as roof structures can potentially disrupt the character of the space and so is not always suitable.
Tree care and planting in the church and heritage sector
According to a report in The Independant the UK will have to plant 1.5 billion trees if it is to tackle climate change. The London Tree Officers Association has this to say on the subject: "Future Governments are committed to planting trees to reduce carbon emissions, however there is concern that some of these proposals are focussed on a rapid increase without considering the intricate steps that are required to ensure that trees establish and thrive and it is important that this is made clear to avoid good intentions resulting in failure."
Professional advice and expertise needs to be sought and implemented.
Grade One-listed church is latest masterpiece in heating company’s portfolio
The Church of St Lawrence in North Wingfield, Derbyshire, is a Grade One-listed building, part of which dates from the 12th century – although mention is made in the Domesday Book of a church and priest there.
Most of the current building dates from the 14th and 15th centuries – a major feature is the massive tower that was built around 1450. Inside the church are the three 14th-century reliefs for which the church is noted: The Martyrdom of St Lawrence, at the east end of the south aisle, The Annunciation and Christ in Majesty with the Virgin and Angels in the vestry (formerly the north chapel).
New sound system for St Peter’s Church, Hever
St Peter’s Church in Hever is the oldest of the three in the benefice, dating back to the 12th century and worship has been held here for over 875 years. It contains the tomb of Sir Thomas Bullen, father of Anne Boleyn and grandfather of Queen Elizabeth the First.
Surrey-based Scanaudio Ltd were invited to submit proposals for updating the 20-year-old sound and loop system for improved system performance and control with a clear upgrade path available for future integration with control and projection facilities. The company installed a TOA F series loudspeaker system with additional coverage for the Bullen Chapel and a small sub-bass to provide full-range sound reproduction for music sources.
Church of England welcomes further government support for churches
Listed Churches in need of vital repairs are to benefit after the Government announced the extension of a grant scheme.
The listed places of worship grants scheme (LPWGS) is to be extended by the Treasury for a further year until March 2021.
The scheme pays grants equal to the VAT incurred on repairs such as urgent structural work and new roofs, reducing the fundraising burden on churches and congregations.
York Handmade completes £60,000 order for St Albans Cathedral
The award-winning York Handmade Brick Company has provided 30,000 bricks for the restoration of the historic St Albans Cathedral in Hertfordshire.
This prestigious commission was worth £60,000 for the Alne-based firm, one of the leading independent brick-makers in the country.
David Armitage, chairman of York Handmade, explained that it was a great honour to provide for St Albans Cathedral.
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.
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.
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