About Church Buildings

 

The Church of England's cathedrals and church buildings together form the nation's single largest 'estate' of built heritage and make a substantial contribution across to the historic environment.

Architecture

Church building in England, and throughout Europe, has been a major stimulus to the development of architecture and architectural decoration since the beginning of the Christian era.  From the great cathedrals, abbeys, and parish churches of the Middle Ages to the modern movements in church building of the 20th century, churches have exemplified the development of building technique and provided continuity of crafts in stone, wood, fine metals, lead and glass.

History

For centuries, churches have been at the centre of the lives of the communities they have served.  Traces of those lives remain in the registers of generations of baptisms, marriages and deaths; in names and events recorded on monuments, tombs and ledger stones; and memories handed down through the local traditions, festivals and fêtes centred around the buildings.  Taken together they form a priceless yet widely accessible record for local and family historians, and reflect the social, economic, demographic and cultural development of the nation.

Crafts and creativity

Bells, organs and choral singing give continuing life to music developed over centuries.  Wall paintings and monuments enable us to glimpse how previous generations understood their own faith, and touch us with their liveliness, beauty and poignancy.

The natural world and the environment

As agriculture has intensified and land is built over, churchyards remain a sanctuary for once common, but now rare wildlife; grasses, mosses, lichens, ferns, fungi, flowers, trees, insects, reptiles, birds and mammals.  But once lost, these fragile ecosystems cannot be reinstated.

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The landscape and the development of the settlement

The church as it developed has often shaped the settlement or landscape around it.  The building may hint at a deserted medieval village, a lost manor house or monastic institution; it may stand on an important town crossroads, which once played an important part in trade and travel.  Its size and opulence may hint at previous prosperity, or its place on an important pilgrimage route.  Churchyards contain much of the local historical and archaeological resource.

Churches also play a valuable role in contemporary society.

Buildings of faith

Churches are built for the worship of God. Faith remains a key underlying theme in our society. But the love of God, in the Christian tradition, cannot be separated from the love of and care for all people, whatever their status, race or creed – or none.

Centres of cultural activity

Churches and cathedrals provide venues for cultural events from the professional to the amateur, international choirs and symphony orchestras to local school nativity plays, at each level encouraging talent, deepening musical and dramatic appreciation, and simply providing space for common enjoyment. 49% of rural churches put on such events; and the number who attend over the country as a whole is comparable to the total number of UK residents attending West End theatres. But this major contribution is often unacknowledged.

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A basis for building skills

Churches generate significant employment through repairs, maintenance and conservation. This depends on specialist craft and professional skills of great antiquity, as much as stimulating new knowledge and techniques. Crafts such as thatching, repairs to earth walls, masonry, stone and wood carving, or casting bells, rely heavily on church work and would be at risk of dying out without this crucial contribution. But maintenance is an increasing burden on small congregations, especially with increasing regulation, while the continuance of skills may suffer from lack of new craftsmen or heavy workloads of those in business.

Patrons of new art

Painting, stained glass, church furnishings, sculpture and other creative arts are powerful communicators, of the Christian message and of general human truths.  Church buildings provide a public context for much new stimulating art – but congregations may need help in articulating their own requirements and commissioning work successfully.

The landscape

For many, the mere presence of the church building contributes at a very deep level to their sense of place.  But churches may be vulnerable to new developments of infrastructure which may affect their link with the community.

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Centres of voluntary and community activity

Churches are a major contributor to social capital, providing a physical base where people can meet and be supported, practically, emotionally and spiritually – expressing the Church’s unending concern to recognise all humanity as neighbours. Day in day out, church buildings host groups for all types of need and age ranges, from toddlers upwards, reaching many who lack the confidence to find self-worth elsewhere. But energy and resources for such activity are often diverted by the challenge of caring for the fabric, nor is the benefit these activities bring to the community usually recognised through external funding.

Urban regeneration

Buildings can offer a base for a range of activities and provide the community with a  place of empowerment: they are strong focal points for regeneration. But regeneration officers and church congregations do not always speak the same language, and planning a major project takes a leap of faith – as well as time and money - for a congregation of volunteers.

The rural community

The rural church building provides a physical focus for many villages; and is often the only building available for community use when school, shop and pub have closed long since.  But rural churches may need help from those with greater access to resources or expertise to help them to make the best use of their building: and not all local authorities will appreciate the potential of the church’s facilities for the community.

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Cathedrals

All these resources are provided by cathedrals as well as parish churches.  Some (not all) cathedrals benefit from more paid staff than parish churches, and a central location within a city.  But they too are subject to many pressures – including heavy running costs.

Education

Church buildings can teach about art, architecture, national and local history, about the faith which has shaped the development of our society – and help people learn about themselves. But educators, and church congregations, need support to carry out this work effectively and give them the resources to open the eyes of children and adults alike.

Tourism

Churches and cathedrals attract visitors, whether in the countryside, market towns, or  major cities, and thereby support the local economy.  But most will not receive a proportionate financial benefit from the visitors they receive.

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© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2004

 

 

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