Historic Churches 2019

14 BCD SPECIAL REPORT ON HISTORIC CHURCHES 26 TH ANNUAL EDITION its closure, the memories of previous parishioners etc). Yet the church’s new lease of life as the seat of the Syro- Malabar Eparchy has given it a new element of significance, and one that it is equally important to understand. Syro-Malabar Catholics, also called ‘St Thomas Christians’, trace their origins and faith to the missionary efforts of St Thomas the Apostle in India in the 1st century AD. They follow the East- Syrian liturgy which dates back to the 3rd century. The Syro-Malabar church follows its own liturgical year and has its own saints and major feasts. It is in full communion with Rome, but retains full autonomy, and it is the second largest Eastern Catholic church (the Ukrainian Catholic Church being the largest). There are some 38,000 Syro- Malabar Catholics in Britain, mainly working in the fields of health and IT. Although there is tangible heritage relating to the Syro-Malabar tradition The history, practices and traditions of the Syro-Malabar congregation which has worshipped at the Cathedral of Alphonsa since 2016 now form an important part of its story. (Photo: Alex Ramsay) A traditional Syro-Malabar statue that stands in the Cathedral of St Alphonsa, Preston (Photo: Alex Ramsay) at St Alphonsa, such as some statues of saints that are not generally known in the Western church, much of the heritage lies in the realms of the intangible – the history of the Syro-Malabar church, and the rites, customs, practices and traditions that now take place in the building. The presence of Syro-Malabar communities across the country can add a further dimension of significance to other churches, and their presence tells part of the story of the life of that church. In conclusion, the churches and chapels across the UK may be extraordinarily ornate or very simple; they may have celebrated national triumphs or purely local tragedies. However, all of them are a repository not just of building techniques, materials and crafts, but also of the stories of the people who designed them, built them, lived around them and worshipped in them. Understanding and appreciating the intangible heritage of these buildings helps us to develop a better understanding of their significance. CHARLOTTE DODGEON is a volunteer policy officer with the HRBA and a director of EPL Heritage (charlotte@eplheritage. com). She has over 17 years’ experience in the heritage sector, with specific expertise in managing grant funding programmes, particularly in the fields of places of worship and conservation-led regeneration projects. The tangible significance of the Cathedral of St Alphonsa can be seen in its style, setting and original fixtures, but to fully understand its value the intangible heritage must also be considered. (Photo: Alex Ramsay)