What is
Church Recording?
Church Recorders set out to discover and document forgotten and
hidden British heritage.
Heritage in churches is under threat from:
- break-ins and theft
- lack of interest
- lack of awareness of what they possess
- lack of money to care for what they own
For the past 30 years Church Recorders
have been helping to deal with at least some of these problems.
Who are Church Recorders?
Members of NADFAS who have an interest in preserving important artefacts and
providing archival material for future researchers. They are not necessarily
experts in any particular subject but are willing to learn and increase their
expertise.
When the Church Record is completed, five copies are lodged with:
Who benefits?
- the church authorities who have a complete
furnishing record
- the police who use our accurate description
and photographs to identify retrieved stolen artefacts
- Insurance companies who use our Records to
identify items
- Researchers who are producing theses and books
on allied subjects
NADFAS Church Trails
A Church Trail is a
questionnaire designed by members of NADFAS for children
aged 8 -12 but is really for people of all ages! The Trail
guides the participant round a church drawing attention to
special points of interest or historical significance in
the architecture, decoration, paintings, stained glass windows
or furnishings. An Answer Sheet which accompanies the Questionnaire
provides all of the extra background detail to enable adults
and children to further explore and enjoy visiting the building
and learn about the history and religious symbolism that
dictated how it was constructed and added to over the years.
The aim is that both should be inspired to visit other Churches
and historic buildings. Leatherhead DFAS were delighted to
present their Church Trail to the Parish Church of St Mary
and St Nicholas and copies are available in the Church or
may be downloaded
here and
here. Other
Societies in the Area are also preparing Church Trails and
they will be available later this year.
Church Recorders Walk round
London Churches
In May, Janet Gulland, the Church Recorders Area Representative
for East Surrey, organised a walk round London Churches for a
group of NADFAS Church Recorders from Societies in the Area.
The Churches visited included a number by Sir Christopher Wren:
Saint James Garlickhythe with its 40 foot high ceiling, the highest
in the City apart from St Paul's is known as 'Wren's Lantern'
and holds silver which survived the Great Fire. In the church
of St Mary Abchurch, they were able to see the grand altarpiece
by Grinling Gibbons. In addition to the satisfaction gained from
creating a Church Record, members say the friendships made along
the way are a real bonus and the shared interest of the day confirmed
this.
Church Recorders
Information Day
In July Church Recorders past and present were delighted to get
together at Leatherhead to view a completed Church Record, share
experiences and hear what others have found so rewarding.
After an introduction by Jan Gulland, the CR Representative for
East Surrey Area, the group moved across to the Parish Church of
St Mary & St Nicholas for a short history of the Church by
the archivist, Linda Heath. While the Director of Music, David
Oliver, gave a demonstration of the restored 18c Thomas Parker
organ, Leatherhead DFAS Church Recorders were on hand to point
out the features of the Church.
Then back to the Church Hall for an introduction to Church Trails
for the Young and a convivial lunch. NADFAS Church Recorders give
so much by the work they undertake compiling Church Records, but
many highlighted how rewarding the experience and sense of achievement
had been for them. New friendships had blossomed along the way
and, for some, it had created an additional level of interest,
which added to the enjoyment of visits to churches in other areas.
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