Press Releases
Caring for your church property in lockdown
At this time when all church buildings are closed, it is even more important to check for any maintenance issues and take appropriate action.
The Parish Resources section of the Church of Ireland website highlights a range of guides and sources of advice which may be helpful for continuing with this responsibility. Visit www.ireland.anglican.org/parish–resources/land–buildings to find out more.
In particular, the Care for Your Church leaflet outlines how preventative maintenance is a very important tool against rising costs of repair due to neglect. Specific advice is provided in relation to roofs, walls, gutters and downpipes, windows and doors, along with checklists for when to check, service or maintain each part of your property. A small regular investment in maintenance can limit the need for, or extent of, expensive repairs.
Parish Resources also includes guidelines for rectories, church yard and grave yard walls, installing church lighting and reducing the potential for light pollution, insurance, and specific guidance which has been issued to help parishes to secure and care for their buildings during lockdowns.
From time to time, local authorities across the island provide grants which can help parishes to maintain historic buildings and make buildings available for use by the wider community. Parishes are encouraged to keep checking their local council websites for updates – a listing is available here.
In Northern Ireland, the next deadline for applications to the National Churches Trust’s Treasure Ireland initiative is 1st June 2021 with decisions on funding to be made in July. The trust offers a number of other grant programmes which may be of assistance to select vestries.
Cornerstone is designed to support major urgent and essential structural repair projects and to improve access for all. Gateway supports churches in RIBA project development, local church trusts, and medium–scale essential repair projects. The Wolfson Foundation Fabric Repairs Grants assist with works on Grade A or B+ listed buildings. For more information, visit www.nationalchurchestrust.org/our–grants
The UK–wide Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme has also been renewed and will continue to operate in 2021–2022. The scheme makes grants towards the VAT incurred in making repairs and carrying out alterations to listed buildings mainly used for public worship. More information on this is available at www.lpwscheme.org.uk
In looking after our buildings well, we are also looking forward to the day when (hopefully soon) we will be able to gather in them again for worship, and welcome our friends, relatives and neighbours to join with us in parish life after the pandemic.
Shared on behalf of the RCB Property Department