Friends of Friendless Churches (FoFC) is a registered charity formed in 1957, active in England and Wales, which campaigns for and rescues redundant historic places of worship threatened by demolition, decay, or inappropriate conversion. As of April 2021, the charity owns 58 redundant churches or chapels, 29 of which are in England, and 29 in Wales.[1]
The charity was formed by Ivor Bulmer-Thomas, a writer, former MP and a high church Anglican.[2] He was the charity's Honorary Director until his death in 1993. The first executive committee included prominent politicians, artists, poets and architects, including John Betjeman, John Piper, Roy Jenkins, T. S. Eliot, Harry Goodhart-Rendel and Rosalie Lady Mander. Initially the charity campaigned and obtained grants for the repair and restoration of churches within its remit. The 1968 Pastoral Measure established the Redundant Churches Fund (now called Churches Conservation Trust). However, the Church Commissioners turned down a number of buildings that the executive committee considered worthy of preservation, including Old St Matthew's Church, Lightcliffe, and St Peter's Church, Wickham Bishops. The charity therefore decided in 1972 to change its constitution, allowing it to acquire threatened buildings either by freehold or by lease. The tower of the church at Lightcliffe was the first property to be vested with the charity.
The charity raises money from various sources. Since 1999, it has worked in partnership with Cadw and the Church in Wales to take redundant churches in Wales into its care.[3] In Wales, the charity receives funding for taking Anglican churches into its care.[4] Of this, 70% comes from the Welsh Government through Cadw, and 30% from the Church in Wales.
In England, the charity does not receive regular public funding, but has obtained grants from bodies such as English Heritage. Other funds are raised from donations, membership fees and legacies from members of the public. Some churches have been supported by the formation of local groups of Friends. The charity administers two trusts, one of which, the Cottam Will Trust, was established by Rev S. E. Cottam for "the advancement of religion of objects of beauty to be placed in ancient Gothic churches either in England or Wales".
All the churches owned by the charity are listed buildings, and most are former Anglican churches, either from the Church of England or the Church in Wales, although three were private chapels, one was a Nonconformist chapel and another a Roman Catholic church.
On the charity's 50th anniversary in 2007 it published a book entitled Saving Churches, containing details of their history and accounts of their churches. The charity describes its mission as an architectural conservation organisation which aims to preserve beautiful places of worship as public monuments. The charity told The Guardian newspaper that cared-for and cherished should not mean fossilised, and instead they want to offer their places of worship for public events such as concerts, knitting groups, seasonal lectures, art exhibitions, supper clubs and the occasional religious ceremony. "They intend to carry on working tirelessly to preserve what Shakespeare described as our magnificent 'sermons in stone' for generations to come", The Guardian stated.[5]
The Friends have argued against Church of England plans, published in 2021, that would diminish the democracy of the church closure process, and reduce the transparency and accountability of the Church.[6]
The charity's patronage was made vacant following the death of the Marquess of Anglesey in 2013. The ecclesiastical patron is Rev Wyn Evans, former Bishop of St Davids, and the president is the Marquess of Salisbury.
Rachel Morley has been the director of the charity since 2018,[7] and there were two members of staff, one part-time.
The list is in two sections, one for England and the other for Wales. This division reflects the former management of most of the English churches by the Church of England and of the Welsh churches by the Church in Wales, and the different funding arrangements in the two countries.
Key
| Grade | Criteria | |
|---|---|---|
| I | Buildings of exceptional interest, sometimes considered to be internationally important | |
| II* | Particularly important buildings of more than special interest | |
| II | Buildings of national importance and special interest | |
| Name | Location | Image | Date | Notes | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Peter | It is thought this was originally a private chapel for the Bishops of London, and then became a parish church. It was restored in 1850, but then became a chapel of ease in the parish of St Bartholomew. The fabric deteriorated and it was declared redundant in 1975. Since 1995 it has been used as an artist's studio. | |||||
| St Peter | In a remote position near the England–Wales border, it is thought the site was used by a hermit in the 6th century. The church was restored in the 17th century, but it closed for public worship in 2006. | |||||
| Urishay Castle Chapel | The chapel is built in the bailey of the now-ruined Urishay Castle. A chancel was added in the 13th century, alterations were made in the 16th and 17th centuries, and restorations have been carried out during the 20th century. It has been under the care of the charity since 1978. | |||||
| St John | Although it originated in the 12th century, only the chancel arch and part of a Norman arch remain from that period. The rest was built in 1847–51, and was designed by the "priest-architect" Fr William Grey. | |||||
| St Mary | Private chapel built by the Barton Trust in Arts and Crafts Gothic, funded by Mary Barton in memory of her husband and son. | |||||
| All Saints | Originating in the 12th century, the church was much rebuilt and restored in the 19th century. | |||||
| St Mary Magdalen | The church stands on the north bank of the River Thames, and was built for bargemen working on the river. It was declared redundant in 1975 and came under the care of the charity in 1983. It was later found that the tower was unstable, and repairs costing £200,000 have been carried out, partially funded by choral concerts held at nearby Eton College. | |||||
| St Leonard | Alterations were made to the church in the 14th and 18th centuries. In the mid-19th century a chancel, porch and bellcote were added. It was declared redundant in 1972. After an application for conversion to a house was declined, it was bought by the Ancient Monuments Society to save it from demolition. A series of repairs has been carried out, and since 1983 it has been used as an artist's workshop. | |||||
| St John the Baptist | Additions were made to the church in the 14th century and a porch was built in 1743. It was made redundant in 1972. It was donated as a monument in 1981. Major repairs were carried out in 2002, and more are being undertaken in 2010. | |||||
| St Mary | The church was built to serve a medieval village that has since disappeared. Additions were made to it in the 15th century. After it was declared redundant, it was proposed to convert it into a house, but it was acquired by the charity and, as of 2010, is managed by the Friends of Hardmead. | |||||
| Ruins of St Andrew's Church | Additions were made to the church in the 14th and 15th centuries, but its fabric deteriorated and by 1866 it was considered to be beyond repair. A new church was built in a nearby village and all the fittings were removed. The charity has carried out work to slow down the rate of decay of the ruins, and services are held annually at the site. | |||||
| St Andrew | Additions and modifications have been made over the centuries since it was built. Because of its isolated position, it has suffered from theft and, since it was declared redundant, it has been subject to damage from vandalism. In addition the foundations are moving, leading to parts of the church settling at different rates. The church has been placed on the Heritage at Risk Register and applications have been made for grants towards its repair. | |||||
| St Mary | The tower and south aisle were demolished in about 1730, leaving a simple church consisting of a nave and chancel, with a bellcote. | |||||
| St Denis | A simple church without tower or spire. The nave dates from about 1300; the chancel was rebuilt by William Butterfield in 1871–74, with a reredos articulated in different-coloured stones.[8] | |||||
| St Mary | The church is constructed from a variety of materials; the nave is in stone, the chancel in brick, the aisle on three sides of the tower is timber-framed, the belfry is weatherboarded, and the roof is tiled. Some of the original 18th-century furniture is still present. Repair and conservation work, assisted by a grant of £140,000 from English Heritage, has been carried out. | |||||
| St Mary Magdalene | The church stands in a deserted medieval village that was abandoned mainly during the 15th and 16th centuries. It was repaired during the 18th century, but because of depopulation it was declared redundant in 1975. It has been under the care of the charity since 1982, and its survival is now assisted by the Caldecote Church Friends. | |||||
| Ayshford Chapel | This was the private chapel of the Ayshford family of the adjacent Ayshford Court, and it was renovated in the 19th century. The charity undertook major work in 2001–02 that included restoration of the internal salmon-pink limewash, and repair of the stained glass. | |||||
| St Mary | Only the tower, the wall of the south aisle, and the 19th-century mortuary chapel remain. The monuments formerly in the church have been moved, most of them to the Victoria and Albert Museum. The remains are a scheduled monument. | |||||
| St Mary | The Perpendicular tower dates from the 15th century. The rest of the church was rebuilt in 1851, although the interior is more Georgian than Gothic Revival in style. | |||||
| Tower of St Peter's Church | The tower is the only surviving part of the structure of this former church. It was taken into the care of the charity in 1976. | |||||
| St John the Baptist | 1530 | The church was almost completely rebuilt in the 19th century, to a design thought to be by its rector, Rev J. H. Sperling. By the 1970s it was largely derelict, and it was taken into the care of the charity in 1979. The church has been restored with the addition of a kitchen and toilets, and it is used as a community centre. | ||||
| Tuxlith Chapel | A gallery was added to the chapel in the 17th century, and during the following century the north transept was built. Because of population growth, a new larger church was built nearby in 1879, and the chapel was used as a Sunday school. This use continued until the 1930s, but the building's fabric subsequently deteriorated and it was declared redundant in 1974. The chapel has been restored and is now used as a community centre, hosting concerts and other events. | |||||
| St Lawrence | The church dates from 16th and 17th centuries, but was almost completely rebuilt in 1896. It served as the estate church for Hutton Bonville Hall, Yorkshire home of the Beresford-Peirse family. The hall was demolished in 1962, and the church now stands in complete isolation, disturbed only by the trains of the East Coast Main Line. | |||||
| St Helen | The nave dates from 1600 (Historic England) or earlier (FoFC), the tower from the 18th century and the chancel from the 19th. The tower, with its copper cupola, dates from the 18th century restoration. | |||||
| Thornton-le-Beans Chapel | 1770 | This has always been a chapel of ease in the parish of St Andrew, South Otterington. It is a stone chapel with a simple plan consisting of a nave and chancel, with a west bellcote. | ||||
| Tower of Old St Matthew's Church | 1775 | The Neoclassical style church was replaced in the late 19th century by a new church a short distance away, and it was then used as a mortuary chapel. It was damaged in a storm in the 1960s, and then suffered from vandalism. The body of the church was demolished, and the tower was taken into the care of the charity, who organised its repair. | ||||
| Strict and Particular Baptist Chapel | 1792 | A porch and an extension were added in the 19th century. The chapel closed in 1976, and since then the charity has carried out repairs to the chapel and to its associated stables. | ||||
| Chapel of St John the Baptist | 1897 | This was a private chapel for Mrs Louisa Sophia Harris, who commissioned Arts and Crafts artists to design the building and its fittings and furnishings. These included Guy Dawber, Louis Davis, George Bankart and John Cooke. Since taking it over, the charity has organised repairs and cleaning. | ||||
| St Mary of the Angels | 1930–37 | The church was built to serve the religious community of Templewood, later a Tertiary Chapter of the Dominican Order. It is the first Roman Catholic church to be vested in the charity. | ||||
| St Helen | A parish church dating from the 15th century with 19th and 20th century restorations. | |||||
| St Andrew | Originally built in the 12th century, the church was completely rebuilt in 1838-9. It is one of the earliest Victorian churches in the county. | |||||
| Name | Location | Photograph | Date | Notes | Grade | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Peulan | Despite a 19th-century restoration, the church has retained its simple medieval character. It contains a font that possibly dates from the pre-Norman era. | ||||||
| St Jerome | The church has 12th century origins and was restored in 1863 - 1878. Its features include a formidable tower to the north side, an elaborately carved early 15th century screen, 19th century floor tiles and the 19th century east window. | ||||||
| St Cynhaearn, Ynyscynhaearn | The church stands in an isolated position on what used to be an island in a former lake, and is approached by an ancient causeway. Its structure dates from the 12th, 16th and 17th centuries, while most of the interior fittings are Georgian in style, dating from 1832. | ||||||
| St Mary, Tal-y-llyn | This is a simple medieval church that is virtually unrestored. Its fabric dates from the 12th century (probably) and the 16th and 17th centuries. Most of the furnishings are from the 18th century, although some have had to be replaced because of vandalism in the 20th century. | ||||||
| St Mary | St Mary's Church retains late pre-Reformation stone carving, and a rood screen with its loft. Its fabric dates from the 13th century, and it was restored in 1857. The churchyard contains a pre-Reformation cross and a sundial, both of which are listed. | ||||||
| St Odoceus | Having been built in the 13th century, it was remodelled during the following century, and restored in the Victorian era. When it was taken over by the charity in 2006 it was in "a state of dereliction"; repair and restoration work has been carried out. | ||||||
| St Ellyw | In an isolated position in the Brecon Beacons, it has retained much of its medieval interior, including wall paintings and a rood screen. It is used as a venue for the annual Talgarth Festival. | ||||||
| St Michael and All Angels | The church stands close to a group of farm buildings. Following a programme of restoration work by the charity, it is managed by the Local History Society. | ||||||
| St Brothen | The church was re-roofed in the 15th century, additions were made in the 17th century, and restorations took place in the 19th century. It retains its rood screen constructed from the wood of trees felled between 1496 and 1506. | ||||||
| St Michael and All Angels | The church dates from the late 12th/early 13th centuries and was restored twice in the 19th century. It contains important Victorian stained glass by Heaton, Butler and Bayne and Hardman & Co., with one of the latter to a design by Augustus Pugin. | ||||||
| St Michael and All Angels | A medieval church which was lightly restored in 1863-1864 by Prichard and Seddon. Two bells in the western bell turret are original, dating from the 13th century and among the oldest church bells in Monmouthshire. | ||||||
| Hodgeston Parish Church | At the beginning of the 19th century the church was "in extreme disrepair". It was renovated in the 1850s, but retained many of its internal features, including a Norman font, a double piscina, and a triple sedilia. | ||||||
| St Decumanus | Mainly medieval church with a tall tower, dedicated to St Decumanus (St Decuman). Has four side chapels associated with houses in the parish. Located beside a large oil refinery. | ||||||
| Manordeifi Old Church | The church stands close to the River Teifi. Following repairs in the earlier part of the 19th century, it was abandoned as a parish church in 1899, and taken into the care of the charity in 2002. The tradition of keeping a coracle in the porch in case of flooding continues to be maintained. | ||||||
| St Anno | First recorded in 1304, the church was repaired in 1837 and completely rebuilt in 1877-1878 by David Walker of Liverpool. The interior contains a rood screen of 1500, restored in 1880 and again in 1960, and "one of the great treasures of Welsh craftsmanship". | ||||||
| St Baglan | St Baglan's stands in an isolated position in a field. It escaped restoration in the 19th century, and retains its 18th-century furnishings, including communion rails, pulpit with sounding board, box pews and benches. | ||||||
| St Beuno | The chancel was added in the 15th century, and the vestry and porch in the 18th century. During the 19th century there were three restorations, but it retains its medieval roof. | ||||||
| St Cadoc | A medieval church which was extensively restored in the 19th century by Thomas Henry Wyatt. Working first for John Etherington Welch Rolls, and then for his son, John Rolls, 1st Baron Llangattock, Wyatt undertook two phases of restoration, in 1852-1853 and in 1875. The church contains important Victorian stained glass notably work by Charles Eamer Kempe. Members of the Rolls family are buried in the churchyard, including Charles Rolls, an early aviator and co-founder of Rolls-Royce. | ||||||
| St Mary | Although it was rebuilt in 1875–76, the church retains medieval contents, including a font. The walls are decorated in Arts and Crafts style sgraffito with designs by Heywood Sumner based on the Benedicite. | ||||||
| St Afran, St Ieuan and St Sannan | Sited in an isolated position by a farm, it became redundant in 1899 when a new church was built nearer the centre of the settlement. By 1970 it was in ruins and without a roof. It was repaired in 1976–77 and came into the care of the charity in 2002. | ||||||
| St Mary | The church stands on an old pilgrims' route. Although it was substantially rebuilt in 1840, its interior retains its Georgian style. Since coming under the care of the charity in 2009, repairs have been undertaken. | ||||||
| St David | The interior of the church is largely unrestored and contains a 15th-century rood screen with its loft, and rare pre-Victorian box pews and other fittings. It was declared redundant in 1999, and repairs to the exterior have been carried out. | ||||||
| St Figael | The church was largely rebuilt in 1841 and has retained most of its 19th-century interior. It also contains three fonts, the oldest dating back to the 12th century. Since taking it over, the charity has re-roofed it and reintroduced timber tracery in the windows. | ||||||
| St Andrew | This is thought to be an early 19th-century rebuild of a medieval church, and it has been unaltered since. Its features include box pews, a three-decker pulpit with a sounding board, and a 12th-century font. | ||||||
| St Michael's Church | 1846–48 | John Jones, otherwise known by his bardic name of Talhaiarn, designed the church in Early English style. Jones is acknowledged as the first Welsh architect to have been trained formally, and this is the only building he designed exclusively by himself. | |||||
| St Dogfael | 1864-65 | A Victorian church dating from 1864 by Robert Jewell Withers for Sir Thomas Lloyd of Bronwydd Castle. | |||||
| St Mark | 1895–98 | Designed by Henry Wilson, this is considered to be one of the finest Arts and Crafts churches in Wales. It was commissioned in memory of Rev Charles Tooth, founder of St Mark's English Church, Florence. | |||||
| St Teilo | 1926 | The church was built from medieval ruins and designed by John Coates Carter based on the principles of the Arts and Crafts Movement. Its interior is dominated by a carved rood screen and a painted reredos. | |||||
| St Philip | Built for the Rev. William Edward Jelf in 1862, designed by his brother-in-law, John Louis Petit. Jelf, a High church clergyman wanted a church on his newly-acquired estate where his Oxford seminarians could worship in the English language. A furious row ensued, as there was an existing legal obligation to hold services in Welsh in all churches in Welsh-speaking areas. Jelf lost his case in the Court of Arches but was supported by the Bishop of Bangor who used his influence and position in the House of Lords to secure the passing of the English Services in Wales Act in 1863, which allowed for English-language services in certain circumstances, including if the church was a private chapel, as St Philip's was deemed to be. |
St Peter's, Corpusty, Norfolk was owned from 1982, then transferred into the care of the Norfolk Churches Trust in 2009.[9]
From 1993 to 2021, the Friends worked in partnership with the Ancient Monuments Society, sharing an office and staff, operating a joint membership scheme, and publishing a joint newsletter, while retaining separate finances and governing bodies. The co-operation came about because the Friends' founder, Ivor Bulmer-Thomas, was also Secretary and later Chairman of the Ancient Monuments Society. The arrangement was amicably dissolved at the request of the Friends,[10] effective 27 September 2021.[11]
This is the date of first construction of the existing building.