Useful Links and Resources
This page contains a list of resources covering many aspects of building presevation and usage. It is not exhaustive, and we are always adding to it. If you know of a useful resources not listed here, please let us know and we will add it.
Thank you.
Historic England
Historic England is a public body that champions and protects England’s hisotirc places. It is overseen by the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England.
Historic England is also a statutory consultee for applications under the Ecclesiastical Exemption.
Listed Buildings
Historic England maintains a list of ‘Listed Buildings’, to check if your building is listed, please visit:
Places of Worship
Historic England maintains a section dedicated to supporting Places of Worship. To visit the section:
Cadw
Cadw is the Welsh Government’s historic environment service working for an accessible and well-protected historic environment for Wales. Cadw’s aim is to conserve Wales’s heritage, to help people understand and care about their history and to help sustain the distinctive character of Wales.
Cadw is a Welsh word meaning ‘to keep’ or ‘to protect’.
Resources and Support in Scotland
Historic Environment Scotland
Historic Environment Scotland is the lead public body set up to investigate, care for and promote Scotland’s historic environment.
Find out about more of the work they undertake HERE
Details of grant and funding opportunities can be found HERE
Places of Worship in Scotland
Places of Worship in Scotland (POWIS) is the main activity of Scottish Church Heritage Research (SCHR) and it identifies, describes and illustrates all 11,000 churches, chapels, and other places and sites of worship in Scotland. Regardless of faith, denomination or present condition.
The Operation of the Ecclesiastical Exemption
The Ecclesiastical Exemption (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Amendment) Order 2010 – Statutory Instrument 2010 No. 1176
This replaces the original 1994 Order in England (Note: the Original Order is still in place in Wales)
The Ecclesiastical Exemption (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Amendment) Order 2010 – Statutory Instrument 2010 No. 1860
This amendment to Statutory Instrument 2010 No. 1176 adds North Western Synod to Schedule 2.
The Operation of the Ecclesiastical Exemption and related planning matters for places of worship in England Guidance
Prepared by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport for the guidance of denominations covered by the exemption.
Procedure for the control of works to buildings
This is the protocol agreed between the United Reformed Church and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and explains the operation of the Exemption within the denomination. (Until recently this was on the Plato web-site, but has been taken down)
http://urcyorkshire.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Listed-Buildings-Control-Procedure.pdf
The Arthur Rank Centre
The Arthur Rank Centre’s Rural Church Buildings informaiton hub contains many resources for the use of buildings in rural settings.
More Resources
Nonconformist Places of Worship
Introductions to Heritage Assets (free pdf download) by Dr Christopher Wakeling (author), Paul Stamper (editor)
Listed Buildings
Historic England is responsible for making recommendations to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport for the Listing of Buildings, information about the process can be found at:
Local Heritage Listing
In some Local Authority areas the Planning Department have established a Local List of buildings, which are not subject to formal Listing by Historic England but are considered to be of local heritage importance. Find out more at:
Improving Access to Historic Buildings
Historic England’s guidelines on improving access to historic buildings for people with disabilities, explain how to make a range of positive changes to historic places. Find out more at:
Historic England’s Regional Offices
East Midlands
2nd Floor, Windsor House, Cliftonville, Northampton, NN1 5BE
01604 735460
North East
Bessie Surtees House, 41-44 Sandhill, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 3JF
0191 269 1255
North West
3rd Floor, Canada House, 3 Chepstow Street, Manchester, M1 5FW
0161 242 1416
Other Offices
Other Heritage Organisations
Amenity Societies
Ancient Monuments Society
The Ancient Monuments Society was founded in 1924 ”for the study and conservation of ancient monuments, historic buildings and fine old craftsmanship’. We are committed not only to campaigning for historic
and beautiful buildings, but to furthering the study of them.
In 2021 the Society adopted the working name of “Historic Buildings & Places”. More information can be found at:
C20 Society
The Twentieth Century Society was founded as the Thirties Society in 1979, and exists to safeguard the heritage of architecture and design in Britain from 1914 onwards. The Society’s prime objectivesare conservation and education.
Council for British Archaeology
An independent charity, the Council for British Archaeology brings together members, supporters and partners to give archaeology a voice and safeguard it for future generations.
The Georgian Group
The Georgian Group is the national charity dedicated to preserving Georgian buildings and gardens. We were founded in 1937.We aim to protect historic buildings through providing advice to owners and architects, campaigning, and through our role as statutory consultees in the planning system. Our annual awards promote excellence in design and conservation. In its casework, the Georgian Group advises councils, church bodies, and others on threats to the historic fabric and setting of structures built between 1700 and 1840. The Group organises lectures and other events aimed at improving the understanding of aspects of the eighteenth and early nineteenth century built heritage. We also produce technical advice leaflets, and promote the publication of academic research through our journal.
Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB)
The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings was founded by William Morris in 1877 to counteract the highly destructive ‘restoration’ of medieval buildings being practised by many Victorian architects.
Today it is the largest, oldest and most technically expert national pressure group fighting to save old buildings from decay, demolition and damage.
Victorian Society
The Victorian Society is the charity championing Victorian and Edwardian buildings in England and Wales. Our Conservation Advisers help local planning authorities and churches to make better decisions about adapting Victorian and Edwardian buildings to the way we live now, while keeping what is special about them.
Other Organisations
War Memorials Trust
War Memorials Trust works for the protection and conservation of war memorials in the UK. We provide advice and information to anyone as well as running grant schemes for the repair and conservation of war memorials.
Grants, Funding, etc.
The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme
The Listed Places of Worship (LPW) Grant Scheme gives grants that cover the VAT incurred in making repairs to listed buildings in use as places of worship. The scheme covers repairs to the fabric of the building, along with associated professional fees, plus repairs to turret clocks, pews, bells and pipe organs.
Heritage Lottery Fund
From the archaeology under our feet to the historic parks, buildings, places of worship we love, from precious memories to rare wildlife… The Heritage Lottery Fund use money raised by National Lottery players to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care about.
Books
Buildings for Mission – A Complete Guide to the Care, Conversion and Development of Churches (Canterbury Press)
Making Church Accessible to All – Including disabled people in church life. (brf)