Caring for your Church's Contents
Churches are major repositories of a wide range of significant historic and artistic objects. Unlike domestic items of comparable age, many of these are still in continuous use. While conservation and maintenance issues should be taken into account when using, handling, storing and displaying objects, it should also be remembered that these precious items were meant to be used in the context of worship. Conservation, together with appropriate and informed care, will ensure that the contents of your church will survive to fulfil that function.
These notes are intended to help you care for your church's objects, and assess what you can do yourself and when you need specialist help. Your architect will also be able to advise you.
Commissioning New Works of Art
Please see our new guidance on Commissioning New Art, which covers all aspects of introducing new art in parish churches and chapels. You can download the guidance here - new art
To complement the launch of this innovative guide, the Church Buildings Council is delighted that the Jerusalem Trust has agreed to donate a prize for £10,000 to be awarded to the parish that makes the best case for commissioning a new artwork applying the guidelines.
To find out more and apply for this prize please click here - Jerusalem Trust New Art Competition
You can find more information on church art by visiting the Churchart website.
Further information
Some of the advice in this section has been informed by:
ICON's Caring for... leaflets on a range of objects and materials (available on the Conservation Register website)
The National Trust, Manual of Housekeeping. The Care of Collections in Historic Houses Open to the Public (Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2006).