Rector’s Daily Reflections
Wednesday 21st February 2024
The Future of our Church Buildings
So far, you may have got the impression that the latest report from the National Churches Trust is all very well, but it fails to tackle the real issues. It is doing little more than tinkering at the edges, and drawing attention to some good things that are already being done. This is all very well, but the fundamental issue remains: our church communities simply do not have the resources to look after their churches and chapels. Furthermore, this is not a situation which can simply be left to sort itself out over the course of the next century. Buildings need regular care, and the longer repairs are left undone, the more expensive they get. At present, the backlog of repairs is estimated at some £1 Billion pounds. This eye-watering sum will go up every year. Something needs to be done.
Yes- but what? The sixth and final point in Every Church Counts attempts to address the need to tackle the fundamental issues. It is deliberately and perhaps wisely thin on detailed proposals, but basically it is proposing that all relevant stake-holders come together to work out a co-ordinated and long term strategy for the care of our church buildings. The three key partners will be the Government, heritage organisations and the church denominations. This partnership approach is key: the problem is too big to be tackled by the churches themselves.
How will this long-term strategy emerge? It will be necessary to collect accurate data, especially data which will enable an accurate estimate of future funding needs. But it is not only a matter of data collection. There also needs to be a “better debate about long-term models for buildings that cannot be kept in use by denominations”. Notice three things about this statement . Firstly, there needs to be a debate – people need to be given the opportunity to consider and debate the options; secondly, these options need to look at sustainability in the long-term; and thirdly, there are many different models, so it’s not “one size fits all”.
And when should we start taking action? Sometime in the future? The report does not specify a precise timeframe, but states that the need to take action is “urgent”. This is not one of those issues to be kicked into the long grass. The sooner we tackle it, the better.
So this is what the National Churches Trust thinks. What else might one wish to say on the topic? I will add some further comments in the days ahead.