A grant of £113,000 has been awarded to The Church in Wales for “Taking Forward our Church Heritage”, a project with the Church in Wales and Cadw to improve and support the long-term management of historic places of worship across Wales.
It will help fund a dedicated church heritage officer to manage a three-year programme of training for volunteers to learn new skills, provide guidance and develop knowledge of how to conserve and maintain historic buildings.
Alex Glanville, Head of Property Services for the Church in Wales, said: “So many of us take our churches and chapels for granted and forget that they are there because of the care and attention of the local congregation. This grant will enable us to support our volunteers in their work of caring for the precious heritage of places of worship in Wales.
“Churches are valued by a wide range of different people, not only those who attend services regularly but for the history and architecture of the buildings which attract an estimated 2 million visitors a year in Wales. This project will develop knowledge and skills to help care for historic places of worship to ensure we and future generations can use and enjoy them.”
Dan Clayton Jones, Chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Wales said: “Projects like this rely heavily on the commitment of volunteers who make a huge contribution to the preservation and celebration of our heritage here in Wales.
“Volunteering is a cornerstone of HLF projects and, according to research, on average 13 volunteers are involved in every heritage project in Wales. This cash boost will provide many volunteers with more opportunities to gain additional training in modern and traditional skills.
“Learning is not just about schools and children; it is about offering different opportunities for everyone to develop their understanding of heritage in a way appropriate to their needs, interests and backgrounds. As well as making a tangible impact on heritage, these grants will provide people with the encouragement to succeed in life, develop new skills, and build their confidence and self-esteem.”
Rhys Jones is one of the volunteers who has contributed significant amounts of his leisure time in securing the future of Eglwys Dewi Sant Church, the only Church in Wales church in the Diocese of Llandaff which conducts all its services in the Welsh language. Over the past 10 years in his role as church warden and project manager he has been able to ensure the maintenance and conservation of the Welsh Church in St Andrews Crescent right at the heart of the Capital City of Cardiff.
He said: “We have been fortunate to have already benefited from a HLF grant to help us undertake the urgent re-roofing work to the main roof of our church and secure its future. We underwent a steep learning curve to make this happen. This project for the Church in Wales will be of immense benefit to me and other volunteers throughout the Province of Wales in providing training, support and skills development to take forward future projects via the HLF Scheme.
“Through my work as a volunteer I’ve worked closely with architects and contractors. During this process I have learnt about conservation, expanded my knowledge of the church’s history and developed my project management skills. Bringing everything together is challenging however it’s amazing what you can achieve. What’s more we know that the work we are doing now will be of benefit for years to come.”
