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Topic: Save our Churches !!!!! (Read 5584 times)
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Lynn H
RootsChat Member
Posts: 177
Save our Churches & Graves.
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That is just heartbreaking!!!! It shouldn't be allowed to happen. I feel so strongly about this and i feel so useless because i don't have the power to change things, Together we may be able to make a difference.
Lynn.
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Christopher
Deceased
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 10243
1939 - 2009
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Come on RootsChatters. So far thirty two people have signed the Petition to Save our Churches. I know a couple who signed spotted the petition on other websites. Please sign this petition. The Churches and our heritage need your support. It's not progress to knock down all church buildings in sight and replace them with apartment blocks or supermarkets. The heart is being torn from many rural communities. A church building can be used by community groups. It can also be shared by other denominations if the congregation is shrinking.
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Christopher
Deceased
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 10243
1939 - 2009
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I've been looking at the website of The Churches Conservation Trust (previously the Redundant Churches Fund). This is the leading body conserving England's most beautiful and historic churches which are no longer needed for regular worship. It promotes public enjoyment of these churches, and encourages their use as an educational and community resource. I'm not certain if there are similar Trusts for other parts of the United Kingdom.
I'm interested in the feedback on some other websites where messages are being posted expressing the opinion that people are far more important tham buildings and are asking why a number of churches did not receive the same care and attention that one would give to one's own property. The posters say that they'd much rather support a children's charity or the starving in the third world than contribute to a building.
Christopher
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Elliebob
RootsChat Senior
Posts: 444
Maggie Wright 1889-1949
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The posters say that they'd much rather support a children's charity or the starving in the third world than contribute to a building.
Christopher
Interesting when you think how much support the National Trust has!!
Ellen
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Court, Stratford on Avon, Dorsington, Welford
Faulkner,Glos/Warwicks
Higgins, Quinton
Bennett, Stoke on Trent
Stride, Hampshire
Wright, Stoke on Trent
McConnell, Co Donegal
Brooks, Co Donegal, Antrim
Jackson, Warwickshire/Isle of Wight/India/army
Keefe, Essex, Hampshire/Isle of Wight/army/india<br, Queensland aus. />Chatfield, Sussex
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Lynn H
RootsChat Member
Posts: 177
Save our Churches & Graves.
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A BIG thankyou to all those who signed my petition, but we need more signatures to make a difference.
Thankyou.
Lynn.
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Rena
RootsChat Veteran
Posts: 899
James McCarthy
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Better late than never - I've just seen this thread and signed.
good luck,
Rena
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Aberdeen: Findlay-Shirras,McCarthy
Leith area: Mason, Telford, Darling, Cruikshanks, Sime, Bell
Lanarks:Crum, Brown, MacKenzie,Cameron, Glen, Millar
Ross, Urray:Mackenzie
Moray: Findlay; Marshall/Marischell
Perthshire: Brown Ferguson
Wales: McCarthy, Thomas
England: Almond, Askin, Dodson, Harrison, Maw, McCarthy, Munford, Pye, Shearing, Smith, Smythe, Speight, Strike, Wallis/Wallace, Ward, Wells
Germany: Flamme,Ehlers, Bielstein, Germer, Mohlm, Reupke
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Christopher
Deceased
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 10243
1939 - 2009
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Hi Lynn,
Are there hard copies of the petition as well as the online petition 
Christopher
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Lynn H
RootsChat Member
Posts: 177
Save our Churches & Graves.
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Good Morning Christopher.
No i don't have any other ones circulating, being housebound it would be difficult for me to get them out there. It's a great idea and one that would also do some good.
Any help from anyone with this would be very much appreciated.
Thankyou.
Lynn.
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Christopher
Deceased
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 10243
1939 - 2009
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Hi Lynn,
I posted the link about the petition to my sister but have not received a comment from her ... if she's interested she may spread the word.
Click to see a short item about English Parish Churches. There's also a great site on Medieval Wall Painting in the English Parish Church. www.paintedchurch.org
I wonder how many churches there are in Britain and Ireland. It must be a large number. There are over three hundred and forty historic churches in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.
Christopher
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Lynn H
RootsChat Member
Posts: 177
Save our Churches & Graves.
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Hi Christopher, Thankyou for the links and the article.
It is more heartbreaking then ever when you actually see like that, what is being destroyed 
The artwork is brilliant and should be preserved for future generations to come.
I do hope your sister will lend a helping hand.
Thanx Again for the Links.
Lynn.
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Christopher
Deceased
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 10243
1939 - 2009
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There are several organisations connected with saving Churches. One good example is the Devon Church Bell Restoration Fund (DCBRF) which exists to help finance bell restoration work within Devon which has more church bells than any other county. Since its inception in 1972 the fund has helped around 200 Devon churches with grants totalling more that £85,000.
Click here for a list of Grant-offering Charities who may be willing to assist congregations considering a Church Organ Repair or Restoration Project. Berwick Parish Church is having its pipe organ restored and this will leave the church with one of the finest instruments in north east England.
Ian Powys' page on the Isleham website describes the roof restoration which took place between May and March 2004 at Saint Andrew’s Church.
People across the Atlantic are also helping British Churches. American Friends of British Art is nonprofit charity dedicated to preserving and restoring historic art and architecture in Great Britain. This group was founded in 2003 and seeks to preserve all varieties of historic art including murals, paintings, sculptures, architecture and religious structures. One of their recent projects was St Mary's Church in Norfolk.
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Christopher
Deceased
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 10243
1939 - 2009
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It's mid April and there aren't many names on the Petition which Lynn kindly started.
If developers knock down a few churches the congregations can always follow the
example of the Covenanters in the olden days and pray in fields.
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willow154
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 3157
Mum - Such love
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Hi Lynn,
I've only just come upon this thread.
Interesting views all round.
In response to the initial suggestions regarding making churches available to the community, I know of a church not far from me which was bought by two families of the congregation (one which lives in the village, and one head of the family works as a doctor in the village). The building is an old Roman Catholic church, about the size of a chapel. The two families didn't want the church to be changed into yet another warehouse, of something similar, so have spent money on converting it for the whole of the community to make use of - not only churches in the area. They broadcasted this on the local radio, etc, asking people to come forwarded with ideas of how the building can be used - no charges for rent for a certain period. (Nothing stipulated, or mentioned, about church involvement).
However, no groups/individuals have come forward, to my knowledge, and so a church committee has been set up to start things rolling - which hopefully will make the buidling useful to the community, and show that the church/churches wants to be more available and serve people in the community.
I do wonder if one of the problems is that life is just more complicated now - you can longer just have an idea and start something off, without a business plan or health and safety plans in place, etc for food provision. I myself have can think of ideas, but wouldn't have a clue about drawing up a business plan, etc.
Sadly, without more attending church, funds to keep them open dwindles. There may be some hypocrites in churches, but if those who hate this behaviour stay away, that will never change things - who wins?!!
I've signed the petition, but I don't think it is the only answer, sadly.
Kind regards,
Paulene 
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« Last Edit: Tuesday 22 April 08 12:06 UTC (UK) by willow154 »
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Christopher
Deceased
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 10243
1939 - 2009
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I've just had a look at the website of Ottery St Mary Parich Church. There's a paragraph containing further information in the Heritage Section which says: "The cost of maintaining the church in its present condition is very high and constantly rising. Apart from occasional and specific grants towards restoration from English Heritage, no Government funds are received. We continue to be, therefore, heavily dependent on visitors. Please give what you can. Thank you." I'm certain that many other Parish Churches face the same problem in this day and age.
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