Grants for Historic Furnishings & Artworks IN CHURCHES
Grants are available to PCCs and Friends groups for the repair and conservation of objects of artistic/historical significance in churches and in need of urgent repair.
All applications need to be supported by a detailed conservation report, which must be prepared following our guidance on the preparation of conservation reports. We are also able to provide grants for reports and if you would like to be considered for an initial grant for this work, please email us a copy of an estimate for the report and photographs of the object(s).
http://www.churchcare.co.uk/siteadmin/enquiries.ccb@c-of-e.org.uk
Once you have obtained this report you can apply for an additional grant to support your conservation project.
We cannot support full costs and parishes are expected to contribute financially towards projects (please see the Major Grant Givers and Grants for Object Conservation for information on other sources of funding).
Contractors
Due to the specialised nature of the conservation and repair of historic furnishings and works of art in churches, we strongly recommend that you approach a suitably qualified and experienced contractor to assist you with your project. Details of qualified contractors can be found:
- for monuments, historic timberwork, metalwork, textiles, painting and glass please contact the Conservation Register
- for church plate please contact The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths
The Librarian,
The Goldsmiths' Company,
Goldsmiths' Hall,
Foster Lane,
London EC2V 6BN
Tel: 020 7606 7010
E-mail: library@thegoldsmiths.co.uk
- for historic organs please contact The Institute of British Organ Building.
How to apply:
Applications are made online and you should select below the category of object you are seeking grant aid for. Please note that when you proceed to the online application form, you will be asked to upload the following supporting documentation:
- Conservation report (as described above)
- Latest Quinquennial Inspection report
- Brief summary of any recommendations in the Quinquennial Inspection report that have been completed, are in progress or are about to be put in hand.
- DAC and any other advice on the project
- Letter from your Archdeacon in support of the project
- Statement of most recent annual audited church accounts
- Churchyard Management Plan (applications for churchyard structures only)
We grant-aid the following categories of objects:
- Sculpture & Furnishings (including monuments, timberwork, metalwork, church plate, textiles and churchyard walls)
- Glass (stained glass and historic plain glazing)
- Paintings & Wall Paintings
- Bells & Bell Frames
- Organs & Organ Cases
- Clocks
- Books & Manuscripts
SCULPTURE AND FURNISHINGS
(deadline: 1 December 2010)
Monuments: must be of artistic or historical significance. Monuments of social importance to the parish are also eligible and it is recommended that applications be supported by historical documentation. Works which are purely of a cosmetic nature (e.g. cleaning when no other deterioration occurs) are not eligible.
If you have already obtained a conservation report, you can apply here
Timberwork: structures must be of artistic or historical significance. It is recommended, when appropriate, that applications address the relationship of timberwork structures with the building fabric.
If you have already obtained a conservation report, you can apply here
Metalwork and church plate: must be of artistic or historical interest. The conservation and re-mounting of monumental brasses (when the original slab is missing) is eligible but preference is given to the use of stone as mounting material. Proposals should reflect the historical use of objects.
If you have already obtained a conservation report, you can apply here
Textiles: must be of artistic or historical interest. Victorian and post-Victorian textiles of artistic significance are eligible, provided the provenance is established. The upgrading of storage facilities to conservation standards is also eligible.
If you have already obtained a conservation report, you can apply here
Churchyard monuments and walls: The churchyard must be under the responsibility of the PCC. If the wall, monuments, railings or gates are in a closed churchyard and responsibility of the Local Authority they do not qualify for a grant. Works of a cosmetic nature or soft landscaping are not eligible. Churchyard walls must be of archaeological or architectural nature or ancient walls.
If you have already obtained a conservation report, you can apply here
GLASS (deadline: 3 September 2010)
Stained glass and historic plain glazing can be considered.
If you have already obtained a conservation report, you can apply here
(deadline: 18 March 2011)
Wall paintings and paintings on canvas or wood are eligible for grant aid provided they are of artistic and historical significance and in need of urgent repair. Paintings of social importance to the parish (e.g. hatchments) are also eligible but it is recommended that applications be supported by historical documentation.
The uncovering of wall paintings for aesthetic reasons is not eligible for grant aid.
Cleaning and other work of cosmetic nature are not normally eligible for grant aid.
If you have already obtained a conservation report, you can apply here
(deadline: 29 April 2011)
All bells and bell frames identified by the Church Buildings Council as being of historic significance (see the Database on this website), all bells cast before 1700 and historic bell frames.
Projects must include conservation treatment of the bells themselves (e.g. removal of cast in crown-staples, turning, welding cracked bells) or conservation of a historic bell frame.
If you have already obtained a conservation report, you can apply here
ORGANS AND ORGAN CASES (deadline: 22 Oct 2010)
If you have already obtained a conservation report, you can apply here
Organs of merit over 70 years old in or close to their original condition along with significant instruments of a later date are usually eligible for consideration for grant aid.
Organ cases of historic merit are eligible for consideration.
Grants are awarded for conservation work to organs of historic interest, or where the proposed works restore a clearly established earlier historic state.
Grants will not be awarded for speculative reconstruction or for works which introduce changes from the present condition of the organ, to either the tonal scheme or the action, or which replace earlier parts with non-traditional materials.
Further information on the types of schemes that are most likely to attract grant :-
Grants are awarded for conservation work to organs of historic interest.
The Organs Committee normally considers applications for organs over 70 years old. Such instruments will normally be examples of organ building work which retain the character of the original organ and its builder, with a minimum of interference by later builders.
The Organs Committee encourages parishes to consider engaging a contractor accredited by the Institute of British Organ Building (IBO, http://www.ibo.co.uk/).
In recommending grants, the Organs Committee attaches importance to an approach which shows respect for an organ's historic and artistic character. To this end, parishes are recommended to note the principles of organ restoration and conservation as detailed in Historic Organ Conservation - A practical introduction to processes and planning by Dominic Gwynn (Church House Publishing). Attention is specifically drawn to Chapter 8 of that publication.
When considering grant aid for historic organs, the Organs Committee requires that the chosen contractor should adopt historically appropriate methods in restoration and conservation work. For example, contractors are expected to avoid the use of modern synthetic materials and components inappropriate to the organ's original design, to refrain from gratuitous revoicing or replacement of pipework, and to respect historic finishes on building frames, casework and front pipes.
If you have already obtained a conservation report, you can apply here
All mechanical clocks are eligible.
The project must involve overhaul and repair of the movement and/or dial motionwork. Repair and redecoration of the dial itself is only considered when the dial is ancient and of historical interest and the treatment is conservation-based.
If you have already obtained a conservation report, you can apply here
Books & Manuscripts (open throughout the year)
Historic books and manuscripts, when in the care of the parish, are eligible for grant aid. Modern printed books cannot be considered.
If you have already obtained a conservation report, you can apply here
Conservation Grant Enquiries
Church Buildings Council
Church House
Great Smith Street
London SW1P 3AZ
Tel: 0207 898 1866
