Heritage and Patrimony
A Church for us is more than a building – it is a sacred space, filled with God’s presence. Everything within that space – the paintings, the statues, the stained glass – exists for a spiritual purpose.
This is to provide people with a focus for prayer and an insight into God: literally a ‘glimpse of heaven’. The word ‘Patrimony’ describes the Church’s cultural inheritance in terms of architecture, art and artefacts. All witness to our Catholic past: a history of persecution, struggle and ultimately, revival. We are just custodians, with a duty to preserve these sacred treasures for the future.
Today we also create the Patrimony of tomorrow by commissioning high quality sacred art.
Much of our work is done through the Patrimony Committee. This oversees the work of the diocesan Historic Churches Committees, and acts as the interface between Government authorities and the Church in relation to planning and heritage matters.
Patrimony Committee
How does the Patrimony Committee serve the Church?
- To encourage the appreciation, care and enhancement of the patrimony of the Church in its sacredness and beauty and to see this as a revelation of God's love, as an expression of faith and worship and as a resource for the vitality and continuation of the Church's mission.
- To be of service to the Bishops' Conference by fulfilling with care and efficiency and supporting by advice the work of the Conference and all those who have responsibility for the well being and use of the patrimony of the Church.
- To give advice to the Bishops' Conference, as necessary, on the care, conservation and repair of the patrimony of the Church whether this be buildings, artefacts or record.
- To encourage contact with grant giving bodies which may be in a position to help the Church financially in the furtherance of its duty of care.
- To give advice on the commissioning of new works of art or architecture when requested.
- To assist in educational and/or research projects which promote the care, conservation or development of the patrimony of the Church.
- To promote cooperation with other organisations concerned with the care and study of buildings and artefacts of architectural, archaeological, artistic or historic interest in England and Wales.
- To keep under review end oversee the work of the Patrimony Subcommittee and to appoint the Chairperson and members thereto.
- To represent the views of the Bishops' Conference from time to time to the appropriate government departments and or agencies and to prepare appropriate responses to consultative documents and other related matters which impact in any way on the patrimony of the Church.
Click here for more on the Patrimony Committee.
Diocesan Historic Churches Committees
One of the principal responsibilities of the Patrimony Committee is to monitor and support the work of the Church's Historic Churches Committees.
Under the Ecclesiastical Exemption (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Order 1994, churches and chapels in use for worship in the ownership of the Roman Catholic Church are exempted from some of the provisions of planning legislation subject to approved alternative controls and procedures being exercised by Church authorities.
In general terms this means that the churches of the Catholic Church are exempt from Listed Building Control. The Church itself exercises particular care over these buildings through its Diocesan structures.
More on the Historic Churches Committees can be found here.
Useful links
Historic Churches Committees
Diocesan contact details.
Directory
This is a directory on the Ecclesiastical Exemption from Listed Building control.
Appeals
How to appeal a decision of an Historic Churches Committee.
Caring for Churches
More on how to care for Catholic Churches and their contents.
Glimpse of Heaven
A Glimpse of Heaven, through Alex Ramsey’s photographs and the text of Christopher Martin highlights the rich heritage of Catholic Churches in England and Wales.
Initially a hugely successful English Heritage publication (2006) produced in collaboration with the Patrimony Committee of the Bishops' Conference, a new DVD of A Glimpse of Heaven has now been produced.
The DVD incorporates both film and photography and also interviews with architectural journalists, architects, conservationists and churchmen.
Where to buy the book
English Heritage carries news of the publication of A Glimpse of Heaven. You can visit the link below to buy the book from English Heritage.
English Heritage, 2006
ISBN 978 185074 970 7
See images from A Glimpse of Heaven in our on-going feature.