BCD Special Report on
Historic Churches
19
th annual edition
1
contents
The Building Conservation Directory
Special Report on Historic Churches
Nineteenth Annual Edition
ISBN 978 1 900915 62 5
Published by
Cathedral Communications Limited
High Street, Tisbury, Wiltshire SP3 6HA
Tel 01747 871717 Fax 01747 871718
Email
Managing Director
Gordon Sorensen
Editors
David Boulting
Jonathan Taylor
Public Relations
Elizabeth Coyle-Camp
Production & administration
Sara Collinson
Lydia Porter
Carla Winchcombe
Advertising
Anthony Male
Claire Northcote
Nicholas Rainsford
Typesetting & Design
xendo
Printing
Optichrome
The many companies and specialist groups advertising in
this
Building Conservation Directory Special Report
have
been invited to participate on the basis of their established
involvement in the field of building conservation and
the suitability of some of their products and services for
ecclesiastical buildings work. Some of the participants
also supply products and services to other areas of the
building market which have no application in the building
conservation field. The inclusion of any company or
individual in this publication should not necessarily be
regarded as either a recommendation or an endorsement
by the publishers. Although every effort has been made to
ensure that information in this book is correct at the time
of printing, responsibility for errors or omissions cannot be
accepted by the publishers or any of the contributors.
© Copyright 2012
Cathedral Communications Limited
All rights reserved. No part of this publication
may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recordings,
or otherwise, without the prior written permission
of Cathedral Communications Limited.
Front Cover
St Issui's church at Partrishow in the Brecon Beacons
National Park has changed little since it was rebuilt in
the 14th century. Its treasures include an 11th-century
font, one of the finest medieval roodscreens in the UK, wall
paintings and a monastic cell. (Photo: Jonathan Taylor)
£5.95
from the editorS
As anyone who owns an old house knows, maintenance is a job that’s never finished.
Every man-made structure that remains in use is a work in progress. As we work
with our old buildings we are constantly extending our understanding of their history
and significance, and of the scientific processes that govern their performance. New
conservation technologies and techniques are constantly coming on-stream, and
maintenance and repair work is potentially ever more well-informed and effective.
New developments take centre stage in this 19th annual edition of Historic Churches.
Technological advances include a new approach to underfloor heating (page 18) and the
latest research into the mechanisms of salt crystallisation (page 28), while the historical
advances covered here break new ground on two frontiers: the medieval and the modern.
In arguing that the medieval anchorites were often far from socially isolated,
Mari Hughes-Edwards’ article (page 38) provides a re-assessment of this curious corner
of our religious history. Meanwhile Peter Jones’ article on the 20th-century stained
glass artist Trena Cox (page 11), demonstrates the valuable work of art historians in
illuminating and preserving the history associated with our ecclesiastical treasures.
We are reminded that it isn’t just the tangible ‘built’ heritage that is fragile and
in need of protection. After all, historic fabric is little more than aging material
without the precious stories, memories and histories that are embodied in it.
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