What is Church Recording?
The interiors of our churches contain a wealth of beautiful and fascinating artefacts, often of historical interest. Until The Arts Society Church Recorders were established in 1973 no complete or central records of church artefacts existed. The aim of Church Recorders is to provide an accurate and complete inventory of the church’s contents with detailed descriptions, measurements, background and photographs.
Who can be a Church Recorder?
Anyone with an interest and enthusiasm. Training is given by experienced Church Recorders and help is available from a wide range of experts, reference works, internet and study days.
A recent project
After 4 years of meticulous work a team of volunteers, led by Joyce and Neil McRae, have completed the record of St Blaise Church, Haccombe. The records followed a strict, standard format so that researchers could easily find what they were seeking. They were divided into nine categories: memorials, metalwork, stonework, woodwork, textiles, paintings, library, windows and miscellaneous. Recorders usually worked in pairs on one or more of these sections. The final record was then compiled with photographs.
Copies of this document, with photographs and diagrams, were be distributed to:
- the church
- the diocese
- Council for the Care of Churches
- Victoria & Albert Museum
- National Monuments Record Centre
A very big thank you goes to all those volunteers who gave so many hours to complete this important record.