The process
Church Recorders are NADFAS volunteers who make records of the contents of our national churches, thereby promoting the recognition and preservation of the rich artistic heritage to be found in places of worship of all religions. The items are described in detail and their history researched. All the material is then compiled into a book illustrated with photographs and drawings. This is presented to the church and copies are sent to national institutions. Church Recorders work as part of a team, choosing a single local church to record and then working in pairs on different sections of the church furnishings: memorials, metalwork, stonework, woodwork, textiles, paintings, library, windows and miscellaneous.
You can look and hear about the value of Church Recording and what is involved by listening to this video.
Records
When a Church Record is completed of an Anglican Church in England, five copies are lodged with:
- the church
- the local County Records Office (or the Diocesan authorities)
- Council for the Care of Churches
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- National Monuments Record Centre
Comparable arrangements are made for Records of churches of other denominations and of churches elsewhere in the UK.
Who benefits?
- the church authorities who have a complete furnishing record
- the police who use our accurate descriptions 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
Training
Training is given by experienced recorders and help is available from a wide range of experts with whom we share our discoveries. It can take up to three years to complete a church record (although as you will see below our records were finished in a shorter time) and the sense of achievement when the finished volume is presented is matched by the delight with which it is received.
Falmouth Group
We began work in October 2003 on Mawnan Parish Church. The Church Record was finished in November 2005 and was presented to the Rev. Caroline Pinchbeck at a ceremony at Mawnan Church. Among those present was the Bishop of Truro, the Rt Rev Bill Ind. Some pictures from the Mawnan recording can be seen here.
In March 2006 work began on Mabe church and the record was completed in November 2008 the official handover is due to take place shortly. Some pictures from the Mabe recording can be seen here.
The Church Recorders have recently completed the Constantine Church Record (December 2010). Work started in January 2009. Some pictures from The Constantine recording work in progress can be seen here.
The group are currently identifying another church to record.
Interested in getting involved?
Find out more about this fascinating volunteering opportunity, contact Effie Harvie who leads the work.
A member society of the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies