Places of worship are a priceless part of England's built heritage. Our towns and countryside are unimaginable without the spires and towers of churches, chapels and cathedrals soaring above them.
Nearly 15,000 churches and chapels and 89 cathedrals are listed as being of special architectural or historic interest and about one-third of the very best (Grade I) listed buildings in the country are places of worship.
But this legacy poses enormous challenges if it is to be sustained for the use and enjoyment of future generations.
As the needs of congregations change, there is often pressure for alterations.
Over the centuries many church interiors may have been rearranged several times to meet new needs, and such changes are part of the history of the building.
English Heritage wants to see places of worship maintained and kept in use, and recognises that those in active use must adapt to meet the needs of the time.
Our role is to promote and enable sustainable changes. Our main concerns are to make sure that the special interest of the building is preserved and that nothing of value is irretrievably lost as a result of new works.
The first thing to do is to get an understanding of what makes your place of worship special.
Read the list description, consult the local Historic Environment Record and if appropriate appoint professional advisers. It will be helpful to gather your assessment together as a 'Statement of Significance'.
If your building is complicated or the changes you propose are extensive, try to get your Statement agreed by all possible stakeholders. These should include your denominational control system (eg the Diocesan Advisory Committee), the local council (probably through the conservation officer in the Planning Department), the relevant national amenity society and any local expert groups.
Then write down what you want to achieve by making changes - a 'Statement of Need'. This might be level access, a toilet, kitchen or meeting space, or more extensive or elaborate requirements.
Using these statements (ie the 'Statement of Significance' and the 'Statement of Need') you and your advisers should try to find ways that your needs can be met and the significance of the building can be maintained.
We publish guidance in the document 'New Work in Historic Places of Worship', which may suggest solutions appropriate to your building.
Talk to your contacts in other congregations to learn how they have met similar needs to your own.
There can be great value in visiting other, similar places of worship to see the impacts of recent schemes.
If you are appointing an architect or other professional adviser to prepare a scheme then you should ask each candidate for lists of projects which they have completed and visit them.
Your denominational body may also be able to provide advice.
