Patrimony Committee
What's the Patrimony Committee's remit?
- To encourage the appreciation, care and enhancement of the patrimony of the Church in its sacredness and beauty and to see this as a revelation of God's love, as an expression of faith and worship and as a resource for the vitality and continuation of the Church's mission.
- To be of service to the Bishops' Conference by fulfilling with care and efficiency and supporting by advice the work of the Conference and all those who have responsibility for the well being and use of the patrimony of the Church.
- To give advice to the Bishops' Conference, as necessary, on the care, conservation and repair of the patrimony of the Church whether this be buildings, artefacts or record.
- To encourage contact with grant giving bodies which may be in a position to help the Church financially in the furtherance of its duty of care.
- To give advice on the commissioning of new works of art or architecture when requested.
- To assist in educational and/or research projects which promote the care, conservation or development of the patrimony of the Church.
- To promote cooperation with other organisations concerned with the care and study of buildings and artefacts of architectural, archaeological, artistic or historic interest in England and Wales.
- To keep under review end oversee the work of the Patrimony Subcommittee and to appoint the Chairperson and members thereto.
- To represent the views of the Bishops' Conference from time to time to the appropriate government departments and or agencies and to prepare appropriate responses to consultative documents and other related matters which impact in any way on the patrimony of the Church.
The Patrimony Committee may carry out all or any of the above responsibilities through the Patrimony Sub-Committee.
The Committee may maintain links with a range of other bodies in order promote and assist m the care, conservation and development of church buildings and their contents. These bodies include, apart from the relevant diocesan bodies, the Churches Main Committee, Government Departments and relevant Catholic Societies.
The work of the Patrimony Committee is in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church.
Patrimony Subcommittee
- To keep under review the Ecclesiastical Exemption Scheme with a view to its retention by the Roman Catholic Church and in connection with this:
- prepare as required appropriate policy documents and advice notes setting out procedures and processes to be followed in connection with the implementation of the Exemption scheme within the Church.
- advise Historic Churches Committees on practical, operational and policy issues relating to the Scheme.
- To offer strategic advice to Historic Churches Committees and diocesan authorities on the reordering of churches, closures, grants and other matters relating to Church patrimony.
- To liase with Historic Churches Committees and provide their point of contact with the Bishops’ Conference.
- To liase with the Department for Culture Media and Sport and with Cadw on the operation and review of the Exemption Scheme and on heritage matters generally and to be their point of contact with the Church.
- To liase with other denominations and the amenity societies on all matters connected with Ecclesiastical Exemption and heritage matters.
- To advise and where necessary implement changes relating to the operation of the Ecclesiastical Exemption Scheme consequent upon the periodic review of the scheme by central government
- To provide and thereafter maintain a central register of listed Catholic Churches in England and Wales.
- To advise the Patrimony Committee on all these matters and on other such issues as may be referred to the Subcommittee from time to time. These might include advice on the sale, loan or disposal of objects; advice on archaeology and policies for archaeological management; advice on issues relating to the proper provision to meet fire safety, health and safety and disabled access requirements as these impact an historic churches. These issues are illustrative of a potentially large range of issues.
- To do such other things as may from time to time be delegated to the Sub Committee by the Patrimony Committee.
The Committee and Subcommittee will meet as one body.
Chairman
Rt Revd Thomas McMahon
Members
Ms Sophie Andreae
Deputy Chair, Patrimony Subcommittee - Chair
Ms Emma Bassett
Mr Fergus Brotherton
Mr John Cowdall
Deputy Chair, Patrimony Subcommittee
Mr Andrew Derrick
Prof Martin Goalen
Canon Alan Griffiths
Revd Peter Harris
Mr William Salvin
Rt Revd Dom Geoffrey Scott OSB
Mr Mike State
Mrs Tricia Brooking
Honorary Secretary
Historic Churches Committees
One of the principal responsibilities of the Patrimony Committee is to monitor and support the work of the Church's Historic Churches Committees.
Care of Churches
Part of the management of historic churches, and any church, is the continuing care for the fabric and furnishings