Page 1 - Historic Churches 2013
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The Building Conservation Directory
Special Report on Historic Churches
Twentieth Annual Edition
ISBN 978 1 900915 68 7
Published by
Cathedral Communications Limited
High Street, Tisbury, Wiltshire SP3 6HA
Tel 01747 871717 Fax 01747 871718
Email
Managing Director
Gordon Sorensen
Editors
David Boulting
Jonathan Taylor
Public Relations
Elizabeth Coyle-Camp
Production & administration
Sara Collinson
Lydia Porter
Carla Winchcombe
Advertising
Claire Northcote
Nicholas Rainsford
Typesetting & Design
xendo
Printing
Optichrome
The many companies and specialist groups advertising in
this
Building Conservation Directory Special Report
have
been invited to participate on the basis of their established
involvement in the field of building conservation and
the suitability of some of their products and services for
ecclesiastical buildings work. Some of the participants
also supply products and services to other areas of the
building market which have no application in the building
conservation field. The inclusion of any company or
individual in this publication should not necessarily be
regarded as either a recommendation or an endorsement
by the publishers. Although every effort has been made to
ensure that information in this book is correct at the time
of printing, responsibility for errors or omissions cannot be
accepted by the publishers or any of the contributors.
© Copyright 2013
Cathedral Communications Limited
All rights reserved. No part of this publication
may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recordings,
or otherwise, without the prior written permission
of Cathedral Communications Limited.
Front Cover
Chest tomb at the Church of St Mary and
St Andrew, Grantchester, Cambridge
(Photo: Jonathan Taylor)
£5.95
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FROM THE EDITORS
Historic Churches marks its 20th anniversary with a typically eclectic edition covering
territory from the kirkyards of Scotland (page 2) to England’s windswept south west
(page 11), and subjects as diverse as medieval joinery (page 37) and the commissioning of
church architects (page 15).
Throughout their history churches have needed protection from many kinds of threat,
from Britain’s damp climate to dwindling congregations; from marauders from across
the sea to home-grown reformers bent on ridding the church of idolatrous ornament.
Faced with such ‘challenges’, the endurance of churches – both as congregations and as
buildings – has often come down to problem-solving and working with what’s available,
even if the materials at hand are sometimes less than ideal. This spirit is nicely illustrated
by the medieval parish priests who, required to recite prayers according to a strict liturgical
schedule, scratched crude sundials into the stonework of their church walls (page 18).
Today, in a similar spirit, innovations from low energy lighting (page 32) to grouting
ancient, rubble-filled walls allow churches to go about their daily business.
That business is more diverse than ever. The impact of a National Churches Trust
community grants scheme (page 30) demonstrates the remarkable range of activities now
undertaken by some churches, including English language classes, dementia care and basic
IT training. Given the scope and scale of what is required of the UK’s places of worship it
can be inspiring to look back and remember how much has already been overcome and the
spirit in which it was accomplished.
BCD Special Report on
Historic Churches
20th annual edition
1
CATHEDRAL
C O M M U N I C A T I O N S
