Current Issue
Heritage Roofing
Heritage roofing - maintaining our iconic buildings
The UK is home to some of the most iconic buildings in the world, from stunning churches and cathedrals to historic stately homes. Each and every one of these remarkable feats of architecture requires regular maintenance to ensure they remain in the very best condition, allowing them to be enjoyed for generations.
Cathedral Care
Restoration and upkeep of cathedrals
There are some 42 Anglican cathedrals in the UK, not to mention 20 or so Catholic cathedrals. Cathedrals form the most important collection of historic buildings in England. The largest and most ancient are internationally famous, the smallest are usually among the most significant buildings in their region and even the most recent are architectural masterpieces.
Master Craftsmen
Championing our heritage with modern craftsmanship
Twenty years ago, English Heritage (now Historic England) published its first-ever Register of Buildings at Risk across England, which featured nearly 2,000 buildings and monuments that were ‘neglected, broken and unloved’. Recently Historic England was delighted to announce that over two-thirds of those buildings were now safe, in both urban and rural areas right across the country.
Traditional Lime
Lime: it’s better for buildings – and for the environment
It is now fairly well known that cement is not good for old buildings and that lime mortar should be used. But why? What are the advantages and what are the disadvantages? In order to begin to answer those questions it is necessary to understand the nature of traditional building, the process by which buildings used to be built, and how it differs from modern construction, the process by which we build today.
Audio Visual
Audio visual equipment in church buildings
This guidance is issued by the Church Buildings Council under section 55(1)(d) of the Dioceses, Mission and Pastoral Measure 2007. As it is statutory guidance, it must be considered with great care. The standards of good practice set out in the guidance should not be departed from unless the departure is justified by reasons that are spelled out clearly, logically and convincingly.
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CRE Events
Exhibitors enthuse over the CRE experience
By 4pm on the first day of CRE 24 at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, exhibitors Chris and Kim Dunphy had already had so many helpful and detailed conversations with visitors that they were “completely talked out”.
Insurance
You need to ensure that reasonable precautions are in place at your church to keep it safe for those who use it. To do this, you need to think about what might cause harm to people.
You will then need to decide if the precautions already in place are adequate. If they are not, you may need to identify further action to prevent any danger. When done formally, this is known as a risk assessment.
Church Maintenance
Church maintenance and repair: Calendar of Care
Just as prevention is always better than cure, maintenance is preferable to major repairs. But, such repairs may not always be avoidable. Church Care offers a monthly guide in our coming issues Starting in Spring
We can help you understand the common problems and areas that need your special attention, and give you tips for regular maintenance schemes.
Pest Control
Michael Palin warns of pest threat to churches
Michael Palin is supporting the future of the UK’s historic churches and chapels with a voiceover for a new animated film. The 80 second animation, produced for the National Churches Trust, highlights why churches are some of the nation’s best loved buildings.
Town Halls
The history of the great Victorian Town Halls of Northern England
From industrial squalor to civic pride, the story behind some of the most impressive buildings of the North involve a unique mix of economics, grand designs and noble sentiments within communities.
Lead Roofing
Lead is one of the oldest materials in the roofing industry and is still commonly used throughout the world today.
Lead roofing is a traditional roofing method which has been used in the industry for hundreds of years, and is therefore proven to be extremely reliable. Lead roofing, and sand-cast lead, in particular is ideal for old buildings such as churches or historical renovations, whereas milled lead roofing is a mass-produced alternative, used for precision and accuracy in homes and commercial buildings alike.
Lightning Protection
When lightning strikes are you protected against this act of God?
The issue of lightning protection in churches is one that has exercised this publication for many years. In this four-part series of spotlights on the issue we will be revisiting various aspects of the subject, beginning with an overview of current thinking.
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New home found for scouts' stained glass window
When the local scout hut in Middleton, Greater Mancester was being demolished, a new home for the scout window of 1924 was required. St Gabriel’s, the local church, was chosen to be that home.
Cheshire Stained Glass removed the window from the hut and stored it until a final decision about its future had been made.
The ultimate accolade for the leadwork craftsman
At the beginning of October, some 57 LCA members, associates and their guests assembled at the Fawsley Hall Hotel, near Daventry for the announcement of the winners of the 2015 Murdoch Award and Murdoch Sponsors Award competitions.
The Awards are presented each year in recognition of the very best in leadwork design and installation, carried out by the specialist members of the Lead Contractors Association - in effect the ultimate accolade for the craft of working with lead.
As part of a pre-dinner reception hosted by Jamestown Metals, guests were able to assess the entries for the 2015 Awards and try to pick the overall winner from the keenly competitive and high quality nominations.
The importance of old fashioned brick making
In recent years many historic crafts and trades have gradually declined or been separated from mainstream building in the face of the demand for mass production and more cost effective processes.
Modern brick making, in particular, has developed far beyond its small-scale regional origins. Today’s enormous high-tech factories have the capability to produce immense quantities of perfectly uniform and colour-controlled bricks through fast, efficient, fully automated processes.
However, as technology continues to advance, traditional craftsmanship is in danger of becoming lost in time.
Marking your event with a stained glass commission can leave a legacy for future generations
Do you have a forthcoming event or special anniversary in your church? An exciting commission in glass would be an excellent way to mark the event and will provide a striking feature for generations to come. Is there a new glazed partition at the back of the church to separate a refreshments area? Could a visual connection be made to the rest of the building by incorporating a newly designed stained glass church window as part of the glazed screen?
Bristol-based AP Stained Glass Design and Restoration undertake repairs of all sorts to church and chapel windows, matching the original as closely as possible.
Church Sound Chester to showcase potential benefits of technology in places of worship
Church Sound Chester is being held on Wednesday 4th November 2015 at the Abode Hotel Chester from 3 pm to 8 pm.
At Church Sound Chester visitors will have the opportunity to see and hear how modern technology can enhance and benefit 21st century worship.
What lies below is testament to heating installer’s expertise
In a recent issue of Ecclesiastical and Heritage World the cover story featured the restoration project at the Grade One-listed Church of St Andrew in Epworth, Lincolnshire – known as The Wesleys’ church. A long-suspected Saxon church had been found under the concrete floor when it was lifted for replacement with a more authentic stone floor.
The lifting of the floor provided the opportunity to replace the old heating system with an underfloor system. The installation of underfloor heating in Grade One-listed churches is often fraught with difficulty, so the opportunity to do so without disturbing the fabric was grasped.
The new system was installed by Yorkshire-based Byfield Heating Ltd, specialists in underfloor installations.
New sound and lighting company has over 80 years experience!
Exhibiting for the first time at a CRE event this week were a new company in the sound and light arena - new in name but with over 80 years experience in the industry!
In February 2015 Northern Stage Services acquired Lancelyn Theatre Supplies and Lancelyn Lighting to create National Stage Technology - a UK-wide stage, sound and lighting solutions provider. Northern Stage Services, Lancelyn Theatre Supplies and Lancelyn Lighting have over 80 years’ experience in the industry with an enviable reputation in the marketplace.
The refurbishment of Marston's historic chimney
Marston’s brewery in Burton-on-Trent, is very much the spiritual home of British beer. Still brewing in the traditional way, this historic brewery was established in 1834, using the unique spring water from the Trent Valley that gives its ales the famous sulphurous aroma known as the ‘Burton snatch’.
The Victorian brewhouse, which stands in the town centre, boasts an impressive grade II listed industrial chimney, which is a well-known local landmark.
Tudor Roof Tiles offer a link to the past
Britain's foremost independent manufacturer of genuine handmade Kent Peg tiles and Plain tiles. Traditionally made using local materials, then baked to exacting standards, Tudor's roof tiles suit both historic and modern constructions, from new build or restoration.
Tudor Roof Tile Co Limited is proud to be a 100% British company and is now the largest independant manufacturer of handmade only roof tiles. They are particularly suited to architecturally sensitive churches and old building.
Sound Space Design RIBA Awards success 2015
Sound Space Design are proud to have been acting as acoustic consultant on two RIBA award winning projects this year. Island Pavilion and Bridge, Wormsley with Robin Snell and Partners won in the south region category and follows in the success of the 2012 RIBA award winning Garsington Opera Pavilion also on the Wormsley Estate and in association with Robin Snell and Associates.
Rainclear Systems’ Heritage Cast Aluminium Rainwater range – can it replace cast iron guttering?
Of course aluminium guttering will never completely replace cast iron. Cast iron is often obligatory on our oldest buildings - and with good reason, it offers an unmistakable appearance and has proven to last up to one hundred years with sensible maintenance. It is generally the more expensive system to purchase but still represents great lifetime value when you factor in longevity.
Geraint Jones, managing director of Rainclear Systems, the UK's leading stockist of metal guttering, is a huge fan of cast iron: "As well as its strength and efficiency, the wonderful thing about a modern cast iron system is that it's now available in a pre-painted factory applied finish. Ready to install, this removes all the hassle and concerns of onsite painting.
Cooke Plough restored to former glory
John Cooke & Son were noted manufacturers of horse drawn ploughs based in Lincoln. The Lincolnshire Museum of Rural Life has a number of ploughs attributed to Cooke in their collection. The Museum is based in the listed former barracks built for the Royal North Lincoln Militia. It houses a comprehensive social history collection celebrating the culture of Lincolnshire since 1750.
Church lighting - the next level of innovation on show at CRE Midlands
Innovative church lighting specialists Lighting Dynamics UK were one of the major exhibitors at CRE Midlands which took place from 7-8 October at Birmingham's NEC.
The company, based in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, continue their development as one of the UK's premier companies specialising in the interior and exterior illumination of cathedrals, churches and other places or worship throughout the UK and Ireland. Pictured is a recently completed project at St Giles RC Church in Cheadle.
The company is dedicated to offering a totally independent, creative, unbiased lighting design and consultancy service and as required, they can also supply of all the associated and specified lighting equipment.
Hat-trick heating heroes on show at CRE
The Stoke on Trent-based church heating specialists featured on the front cover of our latest issue were also exhibiting at CRE Midlands.
Mellor and Mottram don't believe in doing things in ones - or even twos. They seem to make a habit of installing trios of systems in churches in close proximity, often as a result of previous collaborations.
Such was the case when the company was approached by Rochdale architect Graham Holland to carry out a survey of the system at Holy Trinity in Littleborough - a Pennine village to the north of the town.
Lighting specialists promote their skills
Church lighting specialists Anthony J Smith (Glos) Ltd will be exhibiting at CRE Sandown. The company have been re-lighting churches of all sizes and denominations for well over 30 years including a recent project at St Matthew's in Winchester.
St Matthews church was originally built towards the end of the 12th century as a chapel for the farming district of Wyke, or Weeke as it is known today, near Winchester.
Traceability comes to the fore as metal theft figure begins to climb again
Research published recently by Vacant Property Specialists (VPS), a company specialising in the protection of premises that are temporarily void or vacant, shows that metal theft is on the rise again 'after a dip following new laws'. The article, using the headline Losing your Mettle: Is the Law failing to stand up to Metal Theft?, shows that incidence of metal thefts reported in the media is back to the same level as it was before the introduction of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013.
New VMZINC roof for Grade 1-listed church on World heritage site
As one of the nation’s Victorian architectural gems on a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Grade 1-listed Saltaire United Reformed Church is a unique example of Italianate religious architecture.
Restoration work on the mausoleum involved VMZINC craftsmen hand crafting a new ornamental, stamped natural zinc roof and hand-working of panels on site by restoration specialists Norman and Underwood Panels.
Zinc was authorised by English Heritage to remove the threat of lead theft, the result being a restoration which has brought the building back to a standard not seen for more than a century.
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