C O N T E X T 1 0 5 : J U LY 2 0 0 8 31 now in a better condition than they were a generation ago, when some were seriously at risk. Dedicated hard work means that major structural problems have been included in agreed programmes of works but the cathedrals continue to need resources, of both funding and skills. For the vast majority of places of worship, grants are not available. Grants will always be given to the buildings in a most parlous condition.The current joint (Heritage Lottery Fund/English Heritage) scheme can only respond positively to 50 per cent of applicants, even though eligibility criteria mean that people apply only if work is for urgent or high-level essential repairs. English Heritage is committed to these very needy buildings, and to the stalwart volunteers who give so much of their time and personal resources to get necessary work done. We want to help communities sustain their places of worship before they reach the stagewhere crisismanagement arises.EnglishHeritage’s Inspired! programme is our attempt to direct support and expertise where it is needed, in collaboration with faith groups and denominations. There are two main thrusts: maintenance and facilitation. (See www. english-heritage.org.uk/inspired/.) Preventing the decline into risk is preferable to trying to rescue a building that has become very vulnerable and incapable of serving the needs of the community. To this end English Heritage is working with the SPAB, supported by a generous HLF grant, to equip volunteers so that they have more confidence and understanding when faced with the task of maintaining an historic place of worship. Faith in Maintenance (www.spabfim. org.uk) offers churchwardens, fabric officers, or anyone else with responsibility for a place of worship, a free training day and a comprehensive handbook, calendar of care and access to a telephone help line. In 2007 660 people took advantage of the offer and over 30 courses have already been arranged for this year. English Heritage is also exploring ways in which regular maintenance can be undertaken by contractors. Health and safety legislation, the changing profile of rural communities and the cost of employing a contractor on a one-off basis (if you can find one who will commit to doing the job) mean that many volunteers abandon the simple but crucial task of keeping rainwater goods working effectively. A successful scheme in London has been followed by rural pilots in Suffolk and Gloucestershire. Each is slightly different, with partnerships being formed within Anglican dioceses and ecumenically in an attempt to produce a high standard of gutter-clearing service. Long-term funding of these simple schemes is a major concern. English Heritage is trying, through capacity building grants, to set up projects that demonstrate value and encourage custodians of places of worship to benefit from economies of scale, keeping costs to a minimum. Maintenance projects are important but the best resource is always the most expensive – human expertise.That is why the bulk of EH’s Inspired! budget (£1.5million) is being committed to employing support officers. The five support officers who have already piloted this scheme amply demonstrate that even one dedicated individual can make a massive difference. Working in Manchester, Chichester, Coventry and Exeter, they have identified buildings in special need because of their condition and/or lack of use.They have helped congregations to develop skills and confidence to access funding for repairs and improvements to the buildings. Their job is to support local people so they can make places of worship sustainable, in line with PPG15’s conviction that ‘generally the best way of securing the upkeep of historic buildings is to keep them in active use’. ‘Future officers’ will be employed by faith groups and denominations working alongside volunteers to prevent vulnerable buildings falling into a worse condition, and to help congregations wanting to make changes so that the site has a stronger future. Forwardlooking local authorities and agencies have recognised that faith groups can be powerful elements within regeneration schemes, and are considering forming partnerships that could benefit from a support officer post. If you are reading this and you think you might know of a place where such a person could work, please get in touch. Job descriptions will be tailored to suit specific partner bodies. They might focus on getting buildings wind and watertight, explore wider uses and increased access for community groups, develop tourism, re-skill volunteers, or dispose of buildings no longer needed for worship. We intend to have a good spread of posts throughout England, appointing 10 people in each of the next three years. These posts require cross-sector skills. A study day has been arranged by Oxford University Department of Education to provide training about how support officers relate to the national heritage agenda. Taking a strategic look at places of worship helps faith groups and denominations manage their buildings and ensure their future within the primary objectives of the congregations. English Heritage is working with a number of Roman Catholic and Anglican dioceses as part of a Taking Stock scheme that provides informed reports on churches and chapels, including an indication of their significance and potential. This is an important example of partnership, where English Heritage offers skills and grants to faith groups seeking a constructive approach to their buildings. Local people find out things they never knew, and wider issues can be teased out on the basis of clear understanding of sites and their context. Part of my role at English Heritage is to keep places of worship and our Inspired! programme high up on the national agenda. We are also working to consider the impact of bats in church buildings; managing buildings that are likely to suffer repeated inundation or structural damage because of rising water levels; and a range of other issues such as bells, isothermal glazing and stone conservation. Diana Evans is head of places of worship policy at English Heritage.
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