Developing options
Having consulted with your congregation and the community, you’ve probably found that people suggested a range of solutions and projects.
There may be one that stands out above all the others, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it is the best option.
Now is a good time to assess all the options and work out which solution your team feels best solves the problem and is the most feasible. You also need to look at the impact each option will have on the building, its current and future uses including liturgical use, and balance that against the benefits of each option. Working through all the options will help you when you come to make the case for the changes you want to make.
This is before you start commissioning drawings, developing definitive proposals or engaging a professional adviser.
Statements of Significance and Need
This is when you start working towards completing your Statements of Significance and Need and our web page provides key information on how to do this.
It is a good idea at this stage to seek pre-application advice from your denominational buildings advisory body e.g. for the Church of England, your Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC). They are experts and importantly their advice is free and could well save you time and energy. They can alert you to likely concerns and give you advice on what is likely to be approved and what is not and will be able to suggest other possible solutions which may help to minimize impact. They may also be able to let you know of any similar projects nearby that you could learn from.
Starting a dialogue at an early stage should also help you to continue effective dialogue through the later stages of an application. They can also ensure you understand the permissions process and explain the documentation you will be required to submit.
More about developing options
More about developing options for church building projects
The two most common adaptations involve installing or upgrading toilets and kitchens. Here are some key things to think about in respect of these two vital facilities
Our page on church kitchens
Our page on church toilets
For any work carried out on your building, you should employ an appropriate professional.
If your project is funded from the public purse (including National Lottery Heritage Fund), you must also ensure that you tender for and make agreements with contractors according to procurement regulations.
It is important to realise that heritage buildings are very different from modern buildings, and the appropriate repair methods and building materials need to be used.
Not using the appropriate materials or methods can cause more significant problems in the future. Therefore, ensure that you employ someone with the right skills and experience.
1. Finding accredited people
Some denominations give advice on finding and appointing an architect or surveyor. For instance, Church of England DACs keep lists of professionals who have proven experience of working with places of worship.
It is worth bearing in mind that some of the specialist trades work across the UK, so they may not be local to you. There are online registers and associations of accredited professionals, consultants and trades people where you can search for suitable people to contact regarding your project.
The Church in Wales provides very practical advice on Employing Professionals as does Historic England
The Building Conservation Directory published annually brings together the latest expert advice and up-to-date information on craft skills, conservation products and specialist services, as well as course listings and other essential information.
Our Specialist Skills Directory provides details of a wide range of professional experts, including architects.
2. Architects and surveyors
For major building projects (and some minor projects in listed buildings) you will need to appoint an architect or building surveyor.
All churches that fall within the Ecclesiastical Exemption system will already have an architect (or chartered surveyor) for the quinquennial (five-yearly) review of the church building. This may be an architect that you only see once every five years or you may have built up a long and trusting relationship with them. Our web page on Quinqennial and other inspections provides useful information.
However, your inspecting architect may not have the design skills or capacity to take on a major new-build project and you do not need to use them for your project. In fact, some architects prefer only to do quinquennial reviews and offer advice on repairs, rather than refurbishments. If you have an historic church building, then you should, for courtesy’s sake, ask your inspecting architect whether they are interested in tendering. Your church architect may or may not have the relevant skills for your individual project, but it is important that they know what is going on and are at least given the opportunity to take part.
It is recommended that if your building is listed, you select a professional with a recognised Conservation Accreditation. Some funders including ourselves require professionals working on listed buildings to have conservation accreditation. This is worth considering at an early stage.
You can find accredited architects and building surveyors via their professional associations:
Architects Accredited in Building Conservation (AABC)
RIBA's Conservation Accredited Architects
Empowering Design Practices: Preparing to work with architects is a booklet for community groups seeking to appoint an architect and explains the various ways this can be done. It provides some basic information on what to look for in the person and practice you commission, as well as what you can do to prepare as a community-based commissioning client. Using a real-life example and some imagined scenarios, the booklet illustrates how an architect can offer different kinds of support and direction at distinct stages within a project.
3. Procurement and tendering
Rules regarding procurement and tendering can affect churches and architects where public money is funding more than 50% of the total project cost (this includes National Lottery Heritage Fund funding). Other funders may also set their own rules regarding procurement and tendering (such as ourselves).
However, guidance usually emphasises that skill and experience should be taken into consideration, so if your current architect or local tradesperson is demonstrably the best person to do the work they can be awarded the contract, even if their costs are slightly higher.
The Church of England has worked with Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund to produce a short guidance note on the interpretation of EU procurement rules. It is relevant to all places of worship, and can be found on the ChurchCare website
Crossing the Threshold: Chapter 5: Developing your ideas: options appraisals, feasibility studies, architect’s brief and the design stages also offers guidance on procurement.
Choosing your contractor
Most external funders will require you to compare at least three quotes for any work you are to have done (especially if the cost will be over £5000).
In addition to comparing costs, you should also look at their previous work, request references and check their experience within the sector. Churchbuild
This country’s historic places of worship should retain their role as living buildings at the heart of their communities. We want to help congregations accommodate changes that are needed to achieve this, in ways which sustain and enhance the special qualities of their buildings.
New work in historic places of worship should:
• be based on an understanding of the cultural and heritage significance of the building;
• minimise harm to the special historic, archaeological, architectural and artistic interest of the building, its contents and setting;
• bring with it public benefits, such as securing the long-term use of the building, which outweigh any harm to significance;
• achieve high standards of design, craftsmanship and materials.
Making Changes to Places of Worship, Historic England 2019
Most churches will have undergone some form of change, and some will have been reordered several times. In some cases, it might have been a minor adaptation, in others a radical re-ordering reflecting a change in liturgical practice, the desire of a local benefactor to show his patronage or the wish of a congregation to provide a community space.
Under current legislation, you cannot undertake any works in your place of worship until you have obtained the relevant permissions, which may involve both church and secular planning authorities. If your building is listed and/or you are developing a major project, this can take time and you may have to consult with several interest groups. So seek advice early.
All planning authorities, church or secular will be looking at any proposed adaptations in terms of their impact on the historic fabric, while church bodies will also be concerned about balancing the need for change – and the benefits of that change - with any impact on fixtures and fittings and liturgical considerations.
The Ecclesiastical Exemption (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) England Order 2010 gives exemption from listed building and conservation area consent for the five main denominations in England and the Church in Wales. It recognises the particular function of the buildings as places of worship and ensures that sacred uses are protected, the parishioners are duly consulted and that the wider aesthetic interests of the public are considered. The system balances mission and worship and wider community use with care and conservation.
Ensure you check with your relevant building advisers at Diocesan, District, Synod or national level to find out what you will need to do. Bear in mind that many processes such as your options appraisal and feasibility study (if you undertook one) and writing your Statements of Need and Significance are all key to making your case.
There is information about the websites of denominations on the CTBI website
There is more comprehensive information in Getting Permissions on our web page
Crossing the Threshold: Chapter 6: Balancing the need for change with heritage and liturgical considerations, legalities and the church planning process helps you to design your building project while taking into account the heritage of your building and liturgical requirements. It also explains the permission process. https://www.hereford.anglican.org/parish-support/community-partnership/…