Save our Churches !!!!!

[Lynn H]

On watching the news the other day i was horrified at the amount of churches being destroyed or sold because they are not being used. I don't know if other people will agree with me but i think that our churches could be used to benifit all the people who are into genealogy and family history, because after all this is where it all starts. They showed a church that had been divided into two parts, at the rear of the church was an area for community use with computers in it. Why can't all the small churches be transformed like this and charge a small fee for the use of it. This would mean that our churches would be open when people want to access the registers without making an appointment, because as you know it is very hard to get into them as they are locked all the time. Im sure that they could get lots of volenteers to help. This is just one way to SAVE OUR CHURCHES!!!! Thanx for taking the time to read this Lynn H.

[aghadowey]

A few years ago we visited a former church in Scotland which had been converted to a shop for local crafts and tea room. It was really lovely and I think the building was used as a local community centre.

P.S. on the same visit saw one which was now a furniture store and while it was better than tearing down the building it did seem rather sad.

[Pels.]

I have to agree Lynn - if only to benefit those who still want to be baptised, married or have their funeral held there!  

Not forgetting all those people who still choose to worship .. ..

[behindthefrogs]

How many thousands of pounds are you willing to contribute to allow this to happen?  It is very well being sentimental about old churches the problem is quite simply that someone needs to pay for their upkeep.  In most cases charging a small fee would not be sufficient to maintain them.

David 

[Pels.]

How many thousands of pounds are you willing to contribute to allow this to happen?  It is very well being sentimental about old churches the problem is quite simply that someone needs to pay for their upkeep.  In most cases charging a small fee would not be sufficient to maintain them.

David 

I donate to our local church every year .. .. as do many others.

Thankfully it is quite well attended, but I shouldn't think for one minute that will last forever!

As people get older .. .. attendances get fewer! 

[CatOne]

Well, I like the idea. I'm fed up with bits of our heritage been constantly chipped away and beautiful old buildings being replaced with modern ugly boxes. I look at photos of the town I live in from 100 years ago and its virtually unrecognisable.  

If they were community run projects, the money could be raised from activities held there (exercise classes, coffee mornings, tea dances, party hire, play groups, etc) and council taxes, etc, most people would prefer our money to be spent on a place that would benefit the whole community, I'm sure, than some of the things our councils come up with to spend our money on!

And if they were private ventures like tearooms/crafts centres, they'd run at a profit and make enough money to maintain the building, the same as they would have to if they were based in any other building

The only good thing they've done in my town is convert an old church into an arts centre and cafe. Its working very well I believe, so these things can be done if the councils really want to..... (the trouble is I think they see pound signs at the thought of selling them off to developers to convert into rabbit hutch houses)

[MarieC]

I guess at least the registers will be given to the County Records Office if churches are de-consecrated.

I agree that it is very sad when churches are closed, but if the congregation becomes so small that the church is unsustainable, there is little alternative. 

MarieC

[toni*]

i didn't realise until recently that they could sell the churches off, i don't think they are allowed to demolish them are they just convert them all the same its not the same as being a church is it.
and graveyards i didnt realise that some had been 'coverted' into car parks or building plots.

[MarieC]

Graveyards - I think that is even worse because those are our ancestors lying there and they will be lost to us forever!! 

MarieC