Is there life after the liturgy?

By Greig Watson
BBC News, Nottingham

In Pictures: The Trust's Treasures

Where prayers and sermons once filled the air music, debate and even sales patter may soon be heard.

The Churches Conservation Trust is asking communities to come forward with ideas to keep religious buildings at the centre of the community.

It looks after churches of historical or architectural interest that are no longer needed for regular worship.

But rather than leave them as sterile museums, it is hoped residents can use them for more secular activities.

The Churches Conservation Trust owns 334 Grade I and II listed churches across England and has an annual budget of about £3m.

Under its care are buildings dating from the 11th Century through to the Victorian era, ranging from unassuming chapels with dazzling tombs to vast towers which dominate the landscape.

Bright Ideas We don't want to keep them in bubble wrap, they should be used Tim Charlson, The Churches Conservation Trust

Tim Charlson, the trust's Field Officer for north east of England, said: "Often these buildings are the largest community buildings in villages which have already lost their pubs, post offices and shops, so there are very few areas that can be used for community spaces.

"If you offer a space then people can decide what they want to use it for.

"Our main job is to make these building weatherproof and in good repair but while we want to preserve these churches we don't want to keep them in bubble wrap, they should be used."

June Keetley from Yarlborough, Lincolnshire, said the church of St John the Baptist was still a vital part of the area.

"We have had no pub or post office for years and when the church was declared redundant people began to disperse, the village lost its sense of character.

"But now we have regular events, book sales to heritage days and the hand bell ringing has gone from strength to strength, with all ages involved from eight to 101.

"We have a pageant planned to mark 600 years since the fire which meant the church had to be rebuilt.

Satanist threat

"Having the church available shows people there is life still in the village, it is a focus for activities and ideas."

New tenants can be diverse and fascinating, with St Paul's in Bristol leased out to a circus school.

A growing interest in historic buildings, stimulated in part by programmes like the BBC's Restoration, has meant some redundant churches being major tourist draws.

Holy Trinity in York saw 17,000 visitors in 2003, double the number of four years ago.

Even the most humble looking churches can have fascinating detail

Mr Charlson said: "These buildings cost a huge amount to maintain and while we get most of our funding from the government, the more they are used the greater the justification for keeping them.

"But it is a pleasure and a privilege to work on these buildings, some of which are 1,000 year old and record so much of the social history of our country."

The challenges of caring for these buildings is huge, from the medieval wall paintings in St John the Baptist, Inglesham, to the stained glass of All Saints in Icklingham, the alabaster tombs of All Saints in Harewood and the 110ft tower of St Michael the Archangel, Booton.

Vandalism is a common problem and one, St Botolph's in Skidbrooke in Lincolnshire, was even claimed to be targeted by Satanists.

Simon Jenkins, author of England's Thousand Best Churches, said: "If it was not for the work of groups like this, many of our finest churches would have been lost.

"While I think churches should be worshipped in, I am in favour of anything that keeps them close to their original appearance, rather than be converted to flats.

"And there is nothing new about using a church for other things; in medieval times only the chancel was sacred, whereas the nave was for community use."