Tournai ‘marble’ (s.p.b.) is not the only sedimentary limestone rock masquerading, by the skill of stonemasons, as a metamorphic rock (true marble, often imported from quarries in Italy). Purbeck ‘marble’ is a limestone rock quarried on the ‘Isle’ of Purbeck on the south coast in Dorset(shire), this rock also ‘takes a polish’ and was often […]

So the support by the Churches Conservation Trust for the proposals of the Taylor Review (s.p.b.) is very encouraging. It heralds a debate on the future of these 16000+ historic buildings from a secular perspective without in any way diminishing their ongoing religious function. Let’s hope the debate can remain measured and sensible. Recently asked by the

The church building in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust with which I am most familiar is St Mary’s, Barton Bendish (south-west Norfolk) – picture above. Sited on the edge of the village with woodland around and farmland beyond, it is a most delightful spot. Somebody local opens the church in the morning and

(Continued from blog of 25th March). The Taylor Review was an initial response to one of the great heritage issues of the 21st century – as such it never made any news media that I saw. Regarding its three main recommendations (s.p.b.) all are encouraging. The fact that all three rely on a degree of political

‘A Pressing Issue’ is the title of a short article in Pinnacle, the latest members magazine of the Churches Conservation Trust. The article summarises the initial decisions of the Taylor Review: Sustainability of English churches and cathedrals. As I had not previously known of the Taylor Review and as I think this is such an important issue

My latest communication from World Wildlife Fund reminds me that ‘With World Water Day, International Day of Forests and Earth Hour, March truly is a time to celebrate the planet’. 21st March = International Day of Forests. 22nd March = World Water Day. 24th March = Earth Hour (see above logo) – switch off your lights