GUIDELINES FOR MINIMUM INFORMATION REQUIRED IN CONSERVATOR'S REPORTS ACCOMPANYING FACULTY AND GRANT APPLICATIONS
Historic Church Furnishings & works of art
SCOPE
These guidelines are intended for conservator's reports on most church furnishings, in particular for monuments, timberwork, wall paintings, paintings on canvas or wood (including hatchments) polychromy, metalwork and stained glass. For stained glass the conservator is encouraged to use the CVMA system to locate windows (see CVMA Numbering System). Although the principles behind the guidelines are appropriate for musical and mechanical furnishings including organs, bells and clocks, separate guidelines for organ builders (agreed with the Institute of British Organ Builders) are available.
The guidelines set out the type of information to be included in reports accompanying Faculty and grant applications. Further advice may be sought from the Church Buildings Council, including whether separate or preliminary reports may be needed, and on the possible sources of grant aid for particular investigations which may be required.
INTRODUCTION
Increasing recognition of the importance and complexity of the historic furnishings and works of art held in churches is reflected in the amount and type of information now required in conservator's reports. Most deterioration of objects has been caused by a combination of inappropriate past treatments, poor management and care regimes and adverse environmental factors. Consequently, the emphasis in their conservation is now on preventative and passive treatments resulting in minimum intervention, and on ensuring their long-term preservation through determining appropriate environmental conditions. Treatment interventions should only be proposed if actually necessary, and should be based on an adequate understanding of the causes of deterioration of the object, its original materials and previous treatments.
Illustrations
- The report should be illustrated with good quality, clearly labelled images, including context views of the church and the object concerned; images must be captioned, including information on the date taken.
- Recording of the current state of the object requires, as a minimum, good quality photographs printed using an archivaly durable process (not using desktop printers), and preferably some form of graphic mapping to record both the nature and the distribution of phenomena.
Essential Information to be Included in the Report
1. SUMMARY
A maximum of one page, summarising the key information from each section of the report / proposal.
2. BRIEF
The scope and intention of the report, the conservator(s) who undertook the investigation, the circumstances of examination (including access), the author(s), the persons responsible for the object and building (including the architect).
3. DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY OF THE BUILDING
3.1. Name of parish, dedication of church, diocese and county.
3.2. Brief description of the building, including date(s) of construction phase(s) and materials, and major interventions relevant to the object. Summary of the heating, ventilation, and, as appropriate, rainwater disposal systems, and their condition and normal use.
4. DESCRIPTION, HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE OBJECT
4.1. Name and date of object
4.2. Location within the church (this should be given on a plan of the building and context photographs included), overall dimensions, and method of installation.If the object is not on permanent display please describe the nature and conditions of storage.
4.3. General description: to include original materials, details of materials of construction, surface treatments, inscriptions, etc.
4.4. In the case of church plate you should also include details of hallmarks (type of metal, maker, town and date). Church plate may come under the protection of The Hallmarking Act (1973) and an Assay Office has to be informed of proposed treatments.
4.5. Physical history of the object, including previous conservation interventions. This should be based on previous documents (including images) as well as circumstantial evidence if possible. Original and restored elements should be clearly differentiated. References to the sources of information used should be given. The Cathedral and Church Buildings Library holds information on churches and their contents as well as conservation records of past treatments. The library is open to the public for consultation (by appointment only) and those preparing conservation reports are encouraged to consult this archive.
4.6. Assessment of the significance associated with the object, such as historical, art historical, social, etc. This significance may be local, regional, national and international. This assessment should be substantiated and referenced. Members of the parish may be able to help with this section. The significance assessment is an important part of the conservator's understanding of the object to be examined and possibly treated. It is also vital information, which allows for informed decisions to be made by faculty and grant-giving committees. In the case of monuments, parishes should try to trace the descendents of monument, agree to the proposals for conservation and maybe contribute towards the cost of conservation.
5. CONDITION ASSESSMENT
5.1. An adequate condition survey should be provided, with descriptions of the different types of deterioration, and with an assessment of the risk of the loss. These should be recorded photographically and graphically as appropriate. It is of particular importance that an assessment is made of whether the deterioration is ongoing. This should be based on the present condition of the object and the history of interventions to both the object and the fabric of the church.
5.2. State the nature of the examination undertaken (e.g. day or artificial light, raking light, ultraviolet light, under magnification whether a scaffold or ladder was used to inspect the object close up), and whether any diagnostic investigations, sampling and analysis were carried out (these should be reported under 6. Causes of Deterioration).
6. CAUSES OF DETERIORATION AND THEIR TREATMENT
6.1 The causes of deterioration, which will typically include environmental factors such as heating and drainage, should be identified. Adequate understanding of the causes of deterioration - and proposals as to how they might be improved for the long-term preservation of the object - may require environmental monitoring and/or other studies by an expert.
6.2. State the basis for the assessment of the causes of deterioration, including examination, sampling and analysis, and diagnostic investigations, and give the results.
6.3. Provide an interpretation of this evidence in relation to the physical history of the object and building, indicating the causes of deterioration.
6.3.1. If this is not possible, indicate what further investigations are required.
6.4. If the causes of deterioration are related to the building envelope, the internal environment, or the use of the building, what measures are being taken by the parish and/or its architect to address them? Reference should be made to the findings and recommendations in the latest quinquennial inspection report.
7. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONSERVATION
7.1. These should be presented (and justified), as well as prioritised, and individually costed. If possible, or relevant they should be based on small-scale and discrete treatment trials. Details should be given as far as possible concerning the materials and methods proposed, and the rationale for their selection, as well as the personnel who will be carrying out the work. If the application is successful, and the work proceeds, a separate report on the treatment undertaken should of course be provided by the conservator at the end of the project.
7.2. Proposals relating to the building, its use and environment should be given with reference to Section 6. Assess what interval (if any) should elapse between the completion of this work and the start of the proposed conservation.
7.2. Provide details and results of any treatment tests, including adequate photographic documentation.
7.3. If you consider that emergency stabilisation work is required, indicate the extent, the materials and methods proposed.
7.4. Indicate any significant ethical or practical issues particular to this case.
7.5. Describe proposed conservation interventions, their sequence, and the materials and methods proposed. Indicate if there are any alternatives to the recommendations (type of interventions, materials and methods) and explain why the proposed course is the most suitable.
7.6. Provide details of the record that will be submitted on completion of the conservation.
8. FUTURE RECOMMENDED CONSERVATION REQUIREMENTS
8.1. Describe what, if any, additional steps you recommend should be taken following completion of conservation to ensure the continuing wellbeing of the object.
8.2. Indicate the nature and frequency of post-conservation monitoring required.
9. ESTIMATE
9.1. Describe what preliminaries and attendance you would require the parish to provide for your work, e.g. scaffolding, electricity, the architect, a builder, etc.
9.2. State accurately the time and cost for carrying out the above work, the qualifications / experience / accreditation status of those who will be undertaking it, and the insurance cover provided. If a phased programme is envisaged show estimates for the phases separately. All on site costs such as materials, accommodation, and travel should be included (unless accommodation is the subject of a specific agreement with the parish).
9.3. Ensure the estimate cost includes the time to produce the record of conservation work.
9.4. Indicate VAT as a separate item.
9.5. State terms of payment and duration of validity of the estimate.
9.6. Indicate any other terms of contract e.g. insurance liability.
10. SOURCES
Provide a list of the sources of information, including published and unpublished materials, historic photographs, etc.
11. APPENDICES
Full records of sampling, analysis, diagnostic investigations, monitoring, etc. should be appended.
August 2005 & June 2008
