A campaign has reported that numerous church structures are in a critical condition and at risk of shutting down, claiming it to be the biggest challenge for UK’s heritage.
According to the National Churches Trust, a lack of resources and knowledge is posing a threat to churches, chapels, and meeting houses. This could potentially jeopardize crucial community services and social areas, such as food banks and warm spaces.
The trust has introduced a “manifesto” called Every Church Counts, which outlines six actions to preserve church buildings. These actions include allocating £50m in public funds for necessary repairs, utilizing the buildings for community services like food banks, child care centers, and youth programs, as well as hosting cultural events such as concerts, exhibitions, and craft fairs.
Sir Michael Palin, the vice-president of the trust, expressed concern for the state of churches in the UK. He emphasized their significance as a beloved aspect of the country’s history and urged immediate action to preserve their valuable local heritage. Currently, numerous church buildings are at risk of being shut down.
Over half of the United Kingdom’s 38,500 religious buildings, including churches, chapels, and meeting houses, are considered listed structures due to their significance in national and local history. However, Anglican churches specifically are dealing with a significant backlog of necessary repairs totaling at least £1 billion, and it is estimated that the annual cost for maintenance repairs is £150 million.
The task of managing buildings and raising funds falls on the individual parishes, but not many local clergy members have the necessary knowledge. The trust is suggesting a group of professionals to assist places of worship for all religions.
In the UK, approximately 3,500 churches have shut down since 2013. Additionally, over 900 places of worship are on Historic England’s “heritage at risk” list. In Scotland, more than 180 churches are in danger, and the Church of Scotland is contemplating closing nearly 40% of its churches.
The National Churches Trust suggests increasing tourism by appealing to both UK residents and visitors from other countries. They propose keeping churches open outside of service times, ideally seven days a week, in order to foster connections with the local community and attract visitors.
The chief executive of the trust, Claire Walker, expressed that the Every Church Counts project serves as a guide for preserving churches in the future. With numerous churches at risk of closing, it is crucial to have a nationwide plan in place to ensure their survival. The government, heritage organizations, and Christian denominations are urged to collaborate in addressing this significant heritage issue in the UK.
“Numerous churches play a vital role in providing essential community services such as food banks and shelter. These services are essentially the UK’s national support system and are crucial for the social and economic welfare of countless individuals. By keeping churches open, support for the vulnerable can be sustained, which is especially significant in areas with higher levels of deprivation.”
A survey conducted in the UK for the trust showed that 68% of adults believed that churches, chapels, and meeting houses hold significance as part of the country’s heritage and history. The percentage of agreement was higher among older individuals compared to younger adults.
Over half (54%) of the individuals surveyed had gone to a church within the last year. A quarter of them went for a religious event, such as Sunday service, weddings, or funerals. One-fifth attended for non-religious community activities like food banks, playgroups, lunch clubs, concerts, or meetings. One-sixth visited a church or chapel as a tourist.
Source: theguardian.com
