Suffolk boasts an internationally significant legacy of historic church buildings. Along with that of Norfolk, they reputedly constitute the greatest concentration of medieval churches anywhere in northern Europe. Out of a total of 476 functioning churches, 50.8% are listed at Grade I and 37.2% are listed at Grade II*. Seven are classed as Major Parish Churches by the Church Buildings Council.
The purpose of the Support Officer role is to help parishes and communities to care for and maintain their historic churches, in particular those on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register. These buildings are not museums, they are living places of worship at the service of their communities, and responsibility for their upkeep rests primarily on the shoulders of volunteers. When major, expensive fabric repairs become necessary, this can be daunting for a parish without the funds or experience to tackle something so demanding. The aim of this post is not to provide a substitute for PCC officers, but to guide and inform, to build capacity and morale. The successful candidate will enable churchwardens to overcome the most pressing problems, leaving them equipped with the knowledge, experience and confidence to tackle them again should they arise in the future, as well as with a better understanding of how to avert fabric decay through routine maintenance.
Key responsibilities include:
- Assist churches on the H@R register, working with parishes, inspecting architects and other key stakeholders to carry out fabric repairs in order downgrade buildings and ultimately to remove them altogether.
- Review incoming QIRs, identifying churches with major and/or chronic fabric defects using agreed criteria, and draw up strategies for assisting them.
- Make contact with the parishes concerned and establish the scope for support, in the first instance by compiling an action plan.
- Assist the DAC Secretary and HE in ensuring that H@R entries are kept up to date, notifying them of cases where the rating can be downgraded or the building removed altogether.
- Liaise with the DAC Secretary on any proposals brought about through work with parishes which require formal permissions, and assist parishes and architects with compiling Statements of Significance and Needs for faculty applications arising from repair projects where necessary.
- Assist parishes with gauging the proportion of external funding that may be needed to tackle repairs, identify funding sources and advise on eligibility, help with compiling grant applications and coordinate simultaneous bids when necessary.
- Promote understanding at parish level of the importance of regular maintenance in warding off fabric decay, what is involved in fabric repairs, and sources of grant aid, to include speaking at training events and webinars, as well as sharing examples of best practice.
- Keep abreast of relevant opportunities, changes and developments with grant-funding for heritage projects, as well as related legislation, forwarding authoritative guidance and information as required.
- Maintain regular contact with counterparts at neighbouring dioceses to share experience and advice, attend regional and national meetings for other HCBSOs.
- Liaise with the Church Buildings Support Officer on any projects where fabric repairs are interlinked with promoting community engagement.
- Maintain records of the number of churches with which contact is made, record where this leads to successful engagement, as well as flagging up problem cases where this is difficult or impossible.
- Maintain records of grant applications, including the amount secured and as a percentage of the total cost of the cycle of works, as well as recording feedback on unsuccessful applications.
- In cooperation with the Church Buildings Support Officer, set up and promote a network of church ambassadors, who have successfully fundraised for and carried out fabric repair or development projects at their own buildings, and who are willing to give advice to other parishes facing similar challenges.
- Support the establishment and development of relevant voluntary organisations such as Friends’ groups.
For further information and how to apply please see the Job Description below.
Applications marked ‘Confidential Application’ to be sent to: HR Manager at HR@cofesuffolk.org or by post to Diocesan Office, St Nicholas Centre, 4 Cutler Street, Ipswich IP1 1UQ.
Closing Date for Applications: Wednesday, 24 July
Interview Date: w/c 12 August 2024
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