34 C O N T E X T 1 0 5 : J U LY 2 0 0 8 Our big urban churches pose an even greater creative challenge. Grade I listed St Paul’s church in Bristol is leased by Circomedia, a circus school with an international reputation. Seeing the students flying through the air on trapezes in front of a fine 18th century plaster frieze is exhilarating. There is a serious outreach element of their work, with free evening and Saturday morning classes for local children. Yet the spiritual aspect of St Paul’s has not been lost, as the sanctuary is reserved as an area of quiet prayer throughout opening hours. Following hard on the success of St Paul’s, we are working in partnership with the All Souls Bolton Community Action Group (see page 14). We do not expect a deluge of toilets, kitchens and major interventions. While our conservation policy accepts that the adaptation of some churches can be acceptable where limited to that which is essential to beneficial use, many of them can withstand only minor, if any, changes. Our main priority remains the repair and conservation of these important historic churches; places full of peace and beauty, craftsmanship, ancient history and hundreds of years of people’s deepest hopes, fears, prayers and rituals. No one could contemplate anything but the lightest of touches to the Holy Sepulchre, Warminghurst in West Sussex, or Holy Trinity, Goodramgate inYork. The philosophy of repair and maintenance which is fundamental to our work has been refined and developed over time but remains true to our first principles. We are committed to the principles of conservative repair, not only because they are inherently sustainable, nor only because they are cost effective (which they are), but because they have proved to be the best for the buildings which we are charged to conserve. Our emphasis on maintenance is borne of experience. It springs not only from our wish to make our churches welcoming, but also from the simplest of financial reasons: money spent on maintenance is never wasted. Repairs can sometimes be deferred, but unblocking gutters and drains, and putting back slipped slates should never be.These are simple tasks that can be done by two people twice or three times a year. Yet year by year we record the appalling condition of some of the churches on vesting. There is the consequent loss of historic fabric but, equally important, although more difficult to define, is the discouraging effect on local people and the symbolism that a neglected church represents to the wider community. The trust wholeheartedly supports SPAB’s Faith in Maintenance programme and has worked in partnership with SPAB, most recently at All Souls Bolton, to provide venues for this important countrywide initiative. The team is also committed to providing training to our vast group of enthusiastic volunteers, without whom we could not continue our work, on appropriate daily care for such sensitive and important buildings. Our skill and expertise in this area is helping us forge new partnerships with other organisations. A current project is a pilot for organising and managing the maintenance of a group of historic churches irrespective of whether they are in use, redundant or vested in the trust, taking the headache of responsibility away from those whose knowledge and priorities differ from our own. An area of considerable unease to those of us concerned with the care of historic churches is the craft skills shortage. Annually we provide the SPAB with details of churches where repair contracts are being undertaken for use in their Craft Fellowship programme.This year for the first time we are holding a skills week at our church of All Saints, Harewood, in partnership with the Harewood House Trust. Among other things, delegates will learn about lime mortars and try out their re-pointing skills on the churchyard wall. In parallel with skills training, we believe it hugely important to engage the next generation, not only in valuing its heritage but also in how to look after it. Schools visits can often include practical projects with our consultants and contractors. This summer the trust is considering its strategic plan for the next six years. Our priority will be the repair, maintenance and increased use of the churches which it is our delight to look after, but we want to share our knowledge and learning to ensure that all historic churches have the best chance of a secure future. What better contribution as the trust celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2009? Sarah Robinson is director of conservation at the Churches Conservation Trust. For more information about the Churches Conservation Trust, to become a member or to give a donation, see www. visitchurches.org.uk. St Paul’s, Bristol in use by Circomedia
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