PCC News

Churchcare is the grant-making stream of the Church of England and this article looks at some of the ways Churchcare can help, giving grants for the conservation of historic church interiors and churchyard structures. However, applications for routine maintenance or cleaning will not be accepted. There are three levels of funding available for application:

Up to £5,000:

Surveys – the first step in many projects is to conduct a survey, funding is available for conservation reports, building performance reports, environmental surveys and technical analysis.

Up to £8,000:

Textiles – for the conservation of textiles of historic or artistic significance.

Up to £10,000:

Bells and Bell Frames – this does not include bell ropes and the bells must be of some significance.

Books and Manuscripts – for the conservation of items of historical or artistic significance.

Churchyard Structures – for projects including tombs, monuments, grave markers, walls, railings and gates, but the structure must be listed separately from the church building.

Clocks – for works on turret clocks that include conservation of the movement and/or dial motion works on clocks with artistic, historic, archaeological or architectural significance.

Monumental Brasses and Decorative Metalwork – for conservation of items including screens, internal railings, plaques and memorials of historic, artistic or archaeological significance. This includes remounting brasses where the original slab is missing.

Organs – for organs of over 70 years of age or significant instruments of a later date to conserve the organ or restore it to a clearly established historic state.

Wall Paintings – for the conservation of wall paintings of significance but funding is not available to rediscover lost paintings.

Stained Glass – for the conservation of stained or painted glass of historic and artistic significance and in exceptional cases historic clear glazing. Funding is also available for environmental protective glazing if part of a coherent conservation scheme.

Wooden Objects – for conservation of woodwork and wooden objects including reredoses, screens, crosses, pulpits and pews.

With all applications to Churchcare, the assessment panel look at the significance, need, urgency and appropriateness of the request and the following information must accompany all applications:

• conservation report (including images of the object)
• advice from the DAC
• statement of significance
• last quinquennial inspection report
• latest financial accounts
• a letter from the Archdeacon supporting the project.

Hopefully this information will give you the confidence to address a small project, gain support from other members of the church or wider community, and maybe act as a catalyst to take on a bigger project.

If you want further help, please do contact Robert Culyer eboreg.phylre@qvbprfrbsabejvpu.bet, 01603 882326 or me, zvpuryrbxrrsr@qvbprfrbsabejvpu.bet, 01603 882325 or me in the Parish Funding Support Office.

Visit the Churchcare website for more information and online the application process: www.DofN.org/churchcare