Guidance
The Church Buildings Council (CBC) is the advisory body on church buildings for the Church of England.
The CBC works with and advises churches and Dioceses on care, conservation and development of church buildings, and works with the Government to advise on policies that affect church buildings.
The Council provides the ChurchCare webpages, which have a helpful step-by-step project guide to making changes to your building as well as guidance notes on a wide range of topics relating to the maintenance and alteration of church buildings and churchyards.
Topics include:
- accessibility
- alterations and extensions
- anti-social behaviour
- archaeology
- audio-visual and electrical wiring
- bells and bell-ringing
- biodiversity
- Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras
- Climate Resilient Churches
- clocks
- connectivity (to the internet)
- conservation reports
- contested heritage
- crime and security prevention
- disposals of redundant furnishings
- electrical car charging
- energy efficiency measures
- environment and climate change
- heating
- historic floors
- insurance, health and safety
- introducing new art in churches
- lighting
- managing conservation projects
- the ‘Net Zero Carbon’ church
- ‘Net Zero Carbon’ webinars
- noticeboards
- organs
- the ‘practical path to Net Zero Carbon’ for churches
- quinquennial inspections
- renewable energy (including solar (PV) panels)
- roofs
- safety and security in church buildings
- seating
- sharing your building and finding partners
- stained glass
- statements of significance and needs
- trees
Consultants, contractors, and suppliers
Parishes often ask the DAC to suggest suitable contractors, consultants, or suppliers. Apart from professionals who are suitable to be Quinquennial Inspectors, the DAC is unable to make such specific recommendations.
Depending on the type of work and whether your building is listed, parishes may find it helpful to consult some or all the following accredited registers or online advertisers’ directories listed below.
Your Archdeacon’s PA may also be able to provide some details of companies which have been recommended by other local churches.
Parish buying
Parish Buying – parishbuying.org.uk
A procurement/bulk-buying service provided by the Church of England (and delivered under contract by 2buy2).
Professional trades, suppliers, and contractors
Maintenance Booker – maintenancebooker.org.uk
Contractors accredited by the National Churches Trust/2buy2, who provide miscellaneous maintenance services.
National Churches Trust – https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/get-support/resources/specialist-skills-directory
Advertisers’ directory for specialist skills and suppliers relating to church buildings and their contents.
Ecclesiastical and Heritage World – ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk/directory-1
Advertisers’ directory for professional trades / suppliers relating to churches and historic buildings.
Church Suppliers Directory – cwponline.co.uk/church-suppliers-directory
Advertisers’ directory for professional trades / suppliers relating to churches.
Conservators and professional trades/suppliers (historic buildings)
Ecclesiastical and Heritage World –
ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk/directory-1
Advertisers’ directory for professional trades / suppliers relating to churches and historic buildings.
Conservation Register from the Institute of Conservation (ICON) – conservationregister.com
Accredited conservators of historic buildings and objects.
The Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) – ihbc.org.uk/resources_head/specialist_registers/index.html
Various accredited registers and advertisers’ directories for professional trades relating to historic buildings.
The Building Conservation Directory – buildingconservation.com/directory/prodserv.php
Advertisers’ directory for professional trades / suppliers relating to historic buildings.
Recommendations from insurers
Ecclesiastical Insurance Group (EIG) – ecclesiastical.com/risk-management/preferred-suppliers
Directory of preferred suppliers as recommended by EIG.
Aviva – aviva.co.uk/risksolutions/specialistpartners
Directory of specialist partners as recommended by Aviva.
Case studies
We hope you will find it helpful to look through some case studies from past issues of The Bridge, our Diocesan newspaper, as well as some national examples.
Churchyards and church gardens
Internal reorderings and alterations/new facilities
Extensions and new church buildings
Fundraising
Repairs and conservation
Environmental projects
National case studies
- The Church of England:
churchofengland.org/more/policy-and-thinking/our-views/environment-and-climate-change/towards-net-zero-carbon-case - The National Churches Trust:
nationalchurchestrust.org/how-we-help/map-churches-chapels-and-meeting-houses-we-have-helped
nationalchurchestrust.org/how-our-grants-help/community-grants
nationalchurchestrust.org/how-our-grants-help/case-studies - The National Churches Trust (NCT), the Ecclesiastical Architects and Surveyors Association (EASA):
nationalchurchestrust.org/architecture-awards/king-prussia-gold-medal
nationalchurchestrust.org/church-architecture-awards/presidents-award - The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF):
heritagefund.org.uk/our-work/places-worship
