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CHURCH HERITAGE News from the Church Buildings and Pastoral Team
Welcome to the newsletter from the Church Buildings and Pastoral Team. It’s a quick overview of key information and updates.
It has been a busy few months since the last newsletter; we know that it has not been easy to keep up with changing guidance. All the information in this newsletter is correct at the time of writing. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the team directly.
COVID-19
For the latest information concerning church buildings and Covid-19 please visit the Church of England’s website: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus- covid-19-guidance-churches
For more specific information about cleaning and disinfecting historic surfaces please visit: https://historicengland.org.uk/coronavirus/historic-places/cleaning- disinfecting-historic-surfaces/
Ss Peter & Paul, Watlington GOOD NEWS Whilst many repair projects have been on hold due to Covid-19 and/or the lack of funding for major works, some have continued.
Project Completed at St Andrew’s, Witchford "After 17 years of fundraising and grant applications, St. Andrew’s Church, Witchford has a new disabled toilet, tea and coffee point with serving hatch, vestry, new internal plaster repairs and working drains. The project was spearheaded over the years by Church Warden, John Bedford, John and Pat Rickwood, coffee morning organisers and St Andrews, Witchford supporters and in the latter years, Rosemary Westwell. After unexpected delays of fire, pestilence and ‘plague’, the work has finally finished. At first the supply of wood was destroyed in a warehouse fire, a bees’ nest had to be removed and work was stopped momentarily, when the Covid-19 lockdown was first announced.” Find out more at: https://bit.ly/2E6mHQS
Bells Removed from St Mary’s, Wimbotsham In early August the bells were all safely lowered from the tower of St Mary’s Church. The bells survived a devastating fire in 2019 but were left suspended in a way that made removal difficult – all three had to be carefully removed at the same time. They will now be inspected to St Mary's Wimbotsham see if repairs are possible. Read more at: https://bit.ly/2EdXLHm and https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-53667463
Emergency Works Start at West Walton Emergency repairs and investigations have just started at St Mary’s, West Walton thanks to the dedication of the churchwarden and support from the Norfolk Churches Trust and Historic England. For information about the church and some great pictures of repairs taking place over a hundred years ago visit: http://www.stmaryschurchwestwalton.org/building1
Two Churches Removed from the Heritage at Risk Register The Heritage at Risk Register, also known as the HARR, is a record of historically important sites and places which are most at risk of deterioration. Inclusion on the register can help to raise the priority of St Andrews, Cherry Hinton repair projects with grant funders by highlighting the particular challenges faced; it is not a criticism of the people caring for buildings. The register is updated and published every autumn. Earlier this year, two churches in this Diocese were removed from the register following the completion of major repairs. The churches, both called St Andrews’, in Swavesey and Cherry Hinton, were successful in receiving funding from the HLF Grants for Places of Worship scheme which sadly came to an end a few years ago. The success of the projects and the new opportunities created at each church would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of volunteers and clergy – congratulations to all involved. Read more at: https://bit.ly/323J4yR Ss Peter & Paul, Watlington St Andrews, Swavesey MAINTENANCE MATTERS We understand that there is a lot to focus on at the moment, but please do not overlook the importance of maintenance. As funding opportunities for major repair projects continue to dwindle, please make the most of smaller grants wherever you can to keep on top of maintenance and minor repairs. Do not hesitate to contact either Sue Dickinson or Holly Isted for advice on grant applications. National Maintenance Week is Back! After a break of a couple of years, the SPAB's annual National Maintenance Week campaign returns on the 20th November. Running since 2002, the campaign aims to remind anyone who looks after a building - regardless of its age, type or purpose - of the simple, achievable steps they can take to prepare for the worst that winter can bring. National Maintenance Week always finishes with National Gutters Day, a gentle, light hearted reminder for everyone to spare 10 minutes to make a simple check on the condition of any property they care for. Follow #NationalGuttersDay on the 27th November and visit https://www.spab.org.uk/campaigning/national-maintenance-week for more information.
Recommended Monthly Tasks From SPAB's Faith in Maintenance Calendar - (https://www.spab.org.uk/sites/default/files/SPAB-FiM-maintenance-calendar.pdf)
September: If your roof space has safe access and is boarded, check whether there is evidence of leaks or damage to the roof covering during heavy rain, especially below gutters. Clear away any plant growth from around the base of the walls and in particular from the drainage channel. Make sure that water tanks and exposed water and heating pipes are protected from frost. Any leaks should be repaired. Make sure that any airbricks or under floor ventilators are free from obstruction and clean if necessary.
October: Check masonry for signs of damage. Report any deeply eroded mortar joints or cracks or signs of movement. Check that snowboards and access walkways are in a good state of repair. Clear leaves and debris from gutters and rainwater pipes regularly and check for any storm damage. Frequent attention may be needed if the building is surrounded by trees or perched on by pigeons.
November: Check that the flagpole is secure. Check the roofs for damage. Debris on the ground from broken or missing slates and tiles indicates that there may be a problem. Continue to clear leaves and debris from gutters and rainwater pipes regularly and check for any storm damage. Take part in National Maintenance Week 20th – 27th November!
GRANTS Since the last newsletter was published there have been numerous emergency funds made available relating to Covid-19. The main aim of these grants has been a quick response to the impacts of lockdown, thus few have been targeted at building works and almost all have had very, very short deadlines. This is likely to continue for some time.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) suspended its normal grants programme back in March this year, with the hope that it would return in October. Just a few weeks ago the NLHF’s website was updated stating that the normal lottery programme would be closed until 2021. It is not known when it will re-open in 2021, nor whether the focus will be the same or will be adjusted to reflect government priorities. In the meantime, the focus is on providing grants to enable heritage organisations to survive the rest of the financial year, so grants are focused on loss of revenue rather than capital works. Those who are most likely to benefit are those who are ready to respond quickly to grant opportunities as they arise. The specific advice for churches from the NLHF is: to proceed with caution, try to phase projects keep an eye out for funding opportunities be open minded about what will be funded in the future (such as skills, job creation, tourism, the value of green space…)
The best advice we can give you is to be prepared and apply for anything you possibly can, even if your chances of success are slim - the more applications, the more weight is added to the case for support for parish churches. Take a look at some of the guidance regarding previous grant schemes, such as: The Cultural Recovery Fund and Heritage Emergency Fund administered by the NLHF (https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/funding#outcome-2 ) The Heritage at Risk Emergency Fund administered by Historic England - https://historicengland.org.uk/coronavirus/funding/covid-19-har-fund/
Remember the smaller funds which can help with maintenance and minor repairs such as the National Churches Trust – the FOUNDATION GRANTS SCHEME WILL CLOSE ON THE 30th OCTOBER https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/our-grants.
We will continue to put details about the most relevant grants on the Diocese of Ely’s website and directly email you details of any significant grants that will close before the publication of the next newsletter. For more advice on grants and lists of grant making organisations, please contact Sue or Holly. If you would prefer to search for grants and receive more frequent updates on funding opportunities, you can register for free with the following websites:
Ely FundFinder – https://bit.ly/3iPRQXW Grants Online – https://www.grantsonline.org.uk/ Funding Central – https://www.fundingcentral.org.uk
The following details are correct at the time of writing this newsletter. GRANTS Introducing...
Zero Carbon Communities (South Cambs Only) This Grant Scheme supports communities in South Cambridgeshire to take action on climate change at a very local level. Applications are invited for projects in any of the three themes (cycling, community, buildings, tree planting and other nature-based ‘solutions’), or you can devise your own project to meet the objectives. Grant awarded between £1,000 and £15,000. The deadline for applications is the 30th September. For more details visit: https://www.scambs.gov.uk/community-development/grants/zero-carbon-communities-grant/
Congregational and General Charitable Trust Supports capital projects involving building work: repairs, improvements or extensions. The Trust does not consider applications for help funding a small part (less than 15%) of larger projects. Emphasis on giving grants to United Reformed and Congregational churches, however, the Trust also welcomes applications from churches of other Protestant denominations or affiliation. Grants awarded from £1000 upto £15,000, usually 15% of the total project costs. Enquiries are welcomed. Deadlines for application are quarterly a few weeks before the panel meets. Meetings usually held in March, June, September and December. For more information visit: https://www.candgtrust.org.uk/
Hope Beyond – Allchurches Trust This grants programme aims to enable churches and Christian charities to meet changing needs within their communities, helping them and the communities they support to adapt. The Fund will look to address these three themes: Projects responding to the issues of loneliness and isolation exacerbated by the Coronavirus pandemic where new and/or enhanced support is being proposed. This could include enabling improved accessibility to buildings/activities and measures to ensure buildings are Covid-19 safe Projects focused on growing community resilience and promoting mental and emotional health and wellbeing, including the provision of mental health and wellbeing support groups and 1:1 counselling for people of all ages (including clergy). Projects focused on growing technological capability and resilience, particularly increasing digital capacity and provision, and supporting those without online access to get online through training and support.
In all cases, applicants will need to demonstrate how their project is seeking to directly respond to increasing/new need as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. No deadline specified. For further information and to apply visit: https://www.allchurches.co.uk/what- we-fund/hopebeyond/ St John the Baptist, Somersham St Peter, Wimblington CURRENT DEADLINES
Grants without Deadlines
Allchurches Trust BIFFA Award - Community Buildings Church Buildings Council Conservation Reports Garfield Weston Geoffrey Watling (Norfolk only) Henry Smith Charity LPWGS National Lottery Community Fund: Awards for All National Lottery Community Fund: Reaching Communities Fund Paul Bassham Charitable Trust (Norfolk only) Suez Community Fund Tarmac Funding Tesco Bags of Help The Barron Bell Trust The Beatrice Laing Trust The Bernard Sunley Foundation The Co-op Local Community Fund The Foyle Foundation The Hobson Charity Ltd The Jack Patston Trust (Cambs only) The Jill Franklin Trust The John S Cohen Foundation The Tudor Trust Virridor Credits Environment Co.
For more help with church finances, particularly during the current crisis, visit: https://www.elydiocese.org/parish-support/being-church-during-covid19/financial-guidance-during- covid-19.php
As places of worship re-open, some people may wish to make a cash donation which they have built up over the preceding weeks. This may take them over the standard £30 pounds limit of the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme. The Churches' Legislation Advisory Service has asked HMRC about this, and a potential solution has been found. This may need some prior explanation to donors. You can find out more on the HRBA website at http://www.hrballiance.org.uk/coronavirus/ SUSPENDED GRANTS PROGRAMMES
National Lottery Heritage Fund – PLEASE NOTE this programme has now been suspended until 2021. Swire Charitable Trust -grants under £25,000 are continuing as normal. Larger grants are to be assessed at the Trustee’s meeting due in October 2020. Email only as post is not currently being collected. Trusthouse Charitable Foundation – grant suspended until autumn of 2020. Greggs Foundation – likely to remain paused for remaining of 2020. The Prince of Wales' Charitable Fund - closed until further notice. The Idlewild Trust – closed until 2021. ASDA Foundation – on hold until further notice. Clothworker’s Foundation – grants for larger capital projects have been suspended until further notice. Complete the online eligibility quiz to find out if this affects your project. The Foyle Foundation – All grants have re-opened except for the major capital requests scheme which is currently suspended. National Lottery Community Fund – the grants programme is still open, but the Fund is currently prioritising funding organisations supporting communities through the COVID-19 pandemic.
NEW INFORMATION & GUIDANCE
Since the Diocese of Ely launched a new website at the end of 2019, we have been busy adding guidance and policies to our pages to help you. New topics added since June…
Church Treasures – advice on how to care for your church’s treasures Heritage at Risk – details about what it is and what to do if you think it applies to your church Maintenance – guidance on how to carry out maintenance on your church building
St Mary the Less, Cambridge St Mary, Swaffham Prior TRAINING & EVENTS
Ride and Stride: 12th September - this event will go ahead in most counties including Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. Please check these websites for more details: https://camhct.uk/rideandstride/ https://norfolkchurchestrust.org.uk/bike-ride/
Heritage Open Days: 11th – 20th September – HODs will happen… in some form! https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/news-desk/news/covid-19-update
National Maintenance Week: 20th – 27th November https://www.spab.org.uk/campaigning/national-maintenance-week
Maintenance Matters - An Introduction to Caring for Your Old Buildings: 24th November FREE webinar delivered by SPAB (Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) https://www.spab.org.uk/whats-on/lectures/maintenance-matters
Faith in Maintenance workshop: now confirmed as Saturday 27th March 2021. A few places have become available; please contact Holly Isted to book.
Tales from the Crypt: Free workshops in September, October and November. These workshops, originally due to run in London earlier this year, will now be delivered on-line. The aim is partly to help other Places of Worship looking to apply to the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF), but despite the suspension of the NLHF’s regular grants programme, the workshops are still relevant. Key topics to be covered include community engagement, project visioning, working with volunteers and heritage interpretation, which are important areas whether or not you are looking for funding. Please follow the links below to find out more and book a place:
8th September: Workshop 1: Exploring Built Heritage: understanding your building, its significance, and how to utilise archives https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tales-from-the-crypt-workshop-1-exploring-built- heritage-tickets-114746104688 6th October: Workshop 2: Art and Heritage: incorporating creativity and the arts in your heritage project https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tales-from-the-crypt-workshop-2-art-and-heritage-tickets-114756810710 3rd November: Workshop 3: Interpreting Heritage: how to interpret, exhibit and communicate heritage https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tales-from-the-crypt-workshop-3-interpreting-heritage-tickets-114758184820
Ss Peter & Paul, Watlington St Andrew, Swavesey CONTACT DETAILS
Please contact Holly if you: have any problems with the links contained in this newsletter and would like alternative contact details would like to be added to/removed from the mailing for the newsletter have a good news story or information you would like included in the next edition; cut-off date 16th November.
All initial enquiries about works to your building or churchyard and queries about the faculty process or applying for consent should please be directed to the Church Buildings office via [email protected]
Geoffrey Hunter - DAC Secretary and Head of the Church Buildings and Pastoral Department Telephone (01353). 652737 or email [email protected]
Sue Dickinson - Assistant DAC Secretary and Grants Adviser Telephone (01353). 652705 or email [email protected]
Poppy Crooks - Church Buildings Advice Assistant Telephone (01353). 652729 or email [email protected]
Holly Isted - Historic Church Buildings Support Officer Telephone (01353). 652720 or email [email protected]
Sally Gilson - Pastoral and Elections Secretary Telephone (01353) 652727 or email [email protected] Sally is currently working reduced hours as part of the furlough scheme. If your query is urgent and she is not available, please contact Geoffrey Hunter.
Ss Peter & Paul, Wisbech