Maintenance
Churchwardens, clergy and PCC members have an invaluable role in looking after their church buildings. Our buildings come in many different shapes and sizes, but the one thing they have in common is a lack of an instruction manual!
You can find lots of information on maintenance below and using by the following links:
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| Quinquennial Inspections | Safety, security and crime | Responsibilities | ||||
Understanding your church building
In the Diocese of Exeter, even some of our youngest church buildings are around one hundred and fifty years old. Understanding an old building is essential to looking after it well.
A good place to start is finding out when your building was first constructed, how it has been altered over time, and what materials were used in its construction. You can find out the basics by reading your most recent Quinquennial Inspection report and – for listed churches – by looking at the listing description on the Historic England website.
Old buildings are very different to modern ones, in terms of both materials and construction methods.
Traditional
- Built from natural materials – usually whatever was available locally.
- Walls are porous – they absorb moisture and then allow it to evaporate (sometimes called ‘breathing’).
- Mortar, render and plaster were made using lime, which is more flexible than cement and allows moisture in and out.
Modern
- Modern materials and construction methods are designed to keep moisture out.
- Using modern materials and methods in an old building interferes with how the building ‘works’. Moisture can be trapped in the fabric, leading to stone decay, damp plaster and timber decay. Modern materials can also change the appearance of a building.
Moisture and ‘damp’
Traditional buildings are not waterproof. We need to accept that a degree of moisture will always enter an old building – and is contained in the air inside it. The word ‘damp’ is often used to describe moisture related issues causing building decay. Mould, falling plaster and woodworm are all examples of problems caused by too much moisture.
There are two key things that can reduce the damage moisture can cause:
- Ensure that the roof, rainwater goods and ground drainage are effective and well maintained. This is like having a good hat/umbrella and boots when you go out in the rain.
- Ensure that moisture can leave the building fabric, through ventilation and using the right sort of materials in repair and redecoration.
The ‘wrong’ sort of materials (i.e. not permeable) include: carpets; gypsum plaster; cement mortar; and emulsion paint. Your church architect will be able to advise on the ‘right’ materials for your building.
Maintenance
Every building needs maintaining. Maintenance is about delaying or preventing things getting to the point of needing repair. It involves looking, then doing. Quite simply, the more maintenance you do, the less money you will need to spend on repairs.
All materials have a lifecycle and will wear out at different rates. When looking after a historic building, you will soon find that there is always something that needs maintenance or repair. The sooner this is carried out, the more cost effective it will be. Delayed repairs cost more and result in damage to other parts of the building.
The biggest threat to your church building is water. Water damage affects stonework, woodwork, internal fittings and decorations. You can easily monitor for problems such as blocked gutters, damp patches and slipped slates. Simple maintenance activities like keeping gullies clear can be done by volunteers, whist paying a company to clear your gutters a couple of times a year is extremely worthwhile.
The below documents are intended to support parishes in maintaining their church buildings.
Maintenance plan template (Word)
For further information on maintaining your building please see The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings‘ website.
When you spot a problem, you should try to react quickly. If you aren’t sure what to do, ask your church architect or surveyor. Bear in mind that repairs often need List B permission.
Cleaning
Keeping your church building and its contents clean and tidy helps to create a warm welcome. Generally this involves gentle dusting, vacuuming and putting things away. Special items should only be cleaned when needed, and not as a matter of routine – and this may need to be done by specialist conservators. An excellent, practical guide produced by the Bats in Churches project is available here (while it is targeted at churches with bats, the cleaning guidance is applicable to all).
You can find a searchable list of approved conservators on the Institute of Conservation website. Conservation grants are available from the Church of England, see here for further information.
Back to ‘Your church building and churchyard‘.
