Church Archaeology

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Useful links

Stewardship of ancient church sites and ruins

Compton Abbas, Dorset

Calceby, Lincolnshire

The CBA and the Church Buildings Council are collaborating to encourage and support local stewardship of ancient church sites and ruins.

Recent research by the Church Buildings Council (CBC), expanding on earlier surveys by the CBA, has shown that there are between 150 and 250 ruins that are under the Faculty Jurisdiction. The Council has compiled a database of these and a handlist is now available. Please contact the CBC’s Archaeology Officer (joseph.elders@c-of-e.org.uk) if you have information or queries about this.

The CBC also recently published its guidance, Ruined Churches: Problem or Opportunity on caring for these vulnerable sites, which was launched at a day conference in October 2010. This brought together interested parties and potential partners to look at the issues and options and explore the possibilities for next steps in terms of practical assistance, joint working and further advice. The event was organised by the CBA and sponsored by the Society for Church Archaeology.

A report on the conference appears in Conservation Update. Presentations from the day and next steps agreed by those who attended can be downloaded below.

The challenge and the issues: CBC guidance for parishes and dioceses
Dr Joseph Elders, Archaeology Officer, Church Buildings Council

Ecology of ruins and conservation Sue Cooper, Caring for God’s Acre

Dunwich: a case study Stuart Boulter, Suffolk County Council

Ecopods and other solutions? Fergus Connolly, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios

Research interest of ruins (not available yet) Dr Linda Monckton, English Heritage

Faith in Maintenance: An SPAB case study Lucy Stewart, Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings

Heritage at Risk in Lincolnshire: a model for local heritage stewardship Dave Start, Heritage Trust Lincolnshire

Next steps: actions agreed by the October conference.