Churchwardens’ Training Day 2015 - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Churchwardens’ Training Day 2015

Sheffield Diocesan Advisory CommitteeSlide2

Time for change

The current climateReport of the National Church Buildings review group

Understand your building AND parishQI Architects and SurveyorsSimplification of the faculty processHelpSlide3

National Picture

Between 1970 and 2010, the average number of people attending church fell from 96 to 59 per building.

One child in 10 is baptised an Anglican. Nearly half the congregations in England have fewer than five members under 16.

The

average age of congregations is 62

National median weekly attendance per church

is currently 60 with wide variations

Through retirement the number of clergy will continue to decline

More benefices will be createdSlide4

2009 Opinion Research Business Survey

85% of the population visited a church or place of worship every year.

35% of the population attend a Christmas service

20% of the population attend a Sunday or midweek service during the year

65% of the population consider themselves as Christian

Churchgoers contribute 23.2 MILLION hours each MONTH to their local communitySlide5

Church buildings are a visible expression of the

Christian faith

They are hard-wired into the landscapeEven those who rarely attend consider them part

of their identity

They hold the collective history of their area

They play significant parts in the lives of those

around them

They are not museums

They are

a visible sign

of ongoing

Christian faith in

their communities and an unparalleled

part of

our nation’s heritage

.

Slide6

Many churches are in the wrong area

Many have slept for too long

Every buildings cost around £10,000 p. a. to maintain

More churches will need to close

A listed building can still close

Parishes have to learn to collaborate and be open

to change

A ‘can do’ not ‘why us’ culture needs to evolveSlide7

Church distribution in the Diocese of SheffieldSlide8

The Diocese of Sheffield:

Covers an area of 580 square miles Has a population of 1.25 million

Has 214 churchesIn an ideal world this means there are 5869 potential congregants for every church Average age of congregants = 622014 figures show the usual Sunday attendance per church ranged from 5 to 981

The median usual

Sunday

attendance = 42

37 churches have fewer than 30 regular congregants

23 churches have over 100 regular congregants

60% of congregations have

fewer than five members under 16.Slide9

National Church Buildings Review Group

National Picture

15,700 churches54% of churches are Grade I or II*57% in rural areas17% of the national population live in rural

areas

70

% of Grade I

&

II* churches are in rural

areas

5.2% are on the At Risk Register

214 churches

31% of churches are

Grade

I or II

*

26% in rural areas

8% of the Diocese of Sheffield’s population live in rural

areas

33% of Grade I & II* churches are in rural areas

5.6% are on the At Risk Register

Diocese of SheffieldSlide10

Rural

8% of the population26% of the church buildingsGood community support

Fewer people to get involvedOpportunity to become multi-purpose local hubsUrban

92% of the population

33% suburban churches

41% city/town churches

More people to draw upon

Serving complex communitiesSlide11

There is no universal magic bullet that will make a church grow

The key is to fully understand your parish and to want to growSlide12

Where to start?

Talk:To your PCC

CongregationNeighboursWider parishOther local groupsArchitectDACSources of information:

DAC

ChurchCare website

DAC Website

Arthur Rank Centre

Church Urban Fund

Church House Library

Other churches

ArchitectSlide13
Slide14

MAKE YOUR

UNIQUE

VOICE HEARDSlide15

Feasible:

The need to carry out your proposals can be clearly demonstrated

You can show who will make use of them It can be seen how they will enhance existing activities and enable new ones to take placeIt is not overly-ambitiousChanges are premised upon growth and not the management of declineSlide16

Achievable:

The scheme is affordable and realistic both to build and to manage in the long-term.Full use is made of the existing building with extensions and additions considered only in extreme cases of demonstrable need

The benefits of the scheme are evident to a wide range of usersIf necessary, the scheme can be divided into manageable phases each of which offer a sense of achievement and contribute to the greater scheme.Slide17

Sustainable:

A broad sector of the local community has ‘bought into’ the development and is willing to offer support.

Do the new facilities add to or help reduce running costs?Will new facilities be environmentally friendly, accessible, cost efficient, sustainable?Do they extend the opening hours of the church?Who will be responsible for the running, maintenance and management of any new facilities?For example, meeting room(s) built for income generation may require a booking system, accessible key-holder, risk assessment, security, insurance and janitorial support.Is income needed to maintain and operate the facilities?Slide18

Example outcomes for heritage:

Heritage is better managedFabric is in better condition

The building can be used more often by more peopleOutcomes for people:Developing skillsLearning about heritageBetter access and understanding of their shared

heritage

Outcomes for communities:

More people engage with heritage

The creation of accessible and usable

spaces

Outcomes for mission:

More groups can use the building

Greater variety of formal and informal services which could not succeed with existing facilities.

Outcomes v OutputSlide19

Speak to your Architect

Ensure you have a good working relationship with your QI inspector

Make sure they are suitably qualified to work on your building – it will affect your ability to apply for grants if notTake their advice:Specifications for repairsGrant applicationsStatements of SignificanceTake time to explain mission action plan and how you want them to help

The

Listed Places of Worship (LPOW) scheme will allow your QI inspector to work on projects for which you apply to them for

funding providing

you can show evidence

that

in the last five years you interviewed at least three architects or surveyors before making an

appointment.

HLF Applications require a

tendering process to appoint a suitably qualified architect for your project. Best practice requires that you  interview at least 3 candidates.Slide20

ROLE OF THE DAC

To ensure church buildings are

maintained to the best possible standardTo inspire parishes to make strategic and sustainable changes to their buildingsTo

encourage congregations to explore

new ways of engaging

with local communities

To help churches become a

welcoming, stimulating and hospitable heart

for their parishes seven days a week

.

To

help churches

discover, celebrate and share the heritage

of their building and

parish for mutual benefit.Slide21

Aims of the DAC for ALL churchesSlide22

Simplification of the faculty process

List A

Greater range of minor works possible without the need for a faculty List B A range of moderate works to be granted written permission following consultation with the Archdeacons and DACList C All other works will require a facultySlide23

Outline of new faculty processSlide24

Changes to the faculty system 2016

More works carried out more quickly

Consultation period will be quickerOne logbook entry to completeWhy keep a Log?Provides a log entry for your records in the church and with the DAC

Provides an audit trail if you receive a complaint or if anything goes wrong

Avoids minor errors causing big problems

Provides feedback to see if the new system works and how it can be developedSlide25

ALLCHURCHES TRUST LIMITED

DAC: Working with organisations to support local churches