Caring for Church Buildings: Inspection, Maintenance, Repair and Permissions

A guide for churchwardens, parochial church councils, inspecting architects and contractors on looking after historic church buildings: inspection, planned maintenance, rainwater, roofs and towers, interiors, wildlife, churchyards, permissions and funding.

Building Restoration Index — Technical Library. By Paul Stenning and Mike Walters, Historic Buildings Advisors, Tuscan Foundry Products.

Why churches need their own approach

Historic churches combine some of the most significant buildings in the country with some of the most stretched resources to care for them.

• Scale and height. Large roofs, towers, spires and high windows mean most maintenance needs specialist access.
• Volunteers. Much of the day-to-day care falls to churchwardens and volunteers, who may have little building experience.
• Permissions. Most denominations have their own system for approving work, separate from the planning system.
• Contents. Monuments, wall paintings, stained glass, organs, bells and furnishings each need specialist care.
• Use. Intermittent heating and occupation, and long periods when the building is empty, affect damp, condensation and security.
• Wildlife and churchyards. Bats, birds and the churchyard itself bring their own responsibilities.

The quinquennial inspection

In the Church of England, every church must be inspected at least every five years by an architect or chartered building surveyor approved by the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC), and the report is the starting point for all maintenance and repair.

• The inspector looks at the whole building and its contents, from the roof and rainwater goods to the floors, services, churchyard walls and trees.
• The report lists repairs and puts them in order of urgency, typically from immediate to longer term, and it may recommend further investigation.
• Electrical installations, lightning protection, heating and fire safety equipment are usually tested separately on their own cycles.

The Church in Wales, the Roman Catholic Church, the Methodist Church and other denominations have their own inspection requirements, often also on a five-year cycle. Our guide to commissioning a condition survey explains what a good inspection should cover.

Turning the report into a plan

A report only protects a building if it is acted on.

• Prioritise. Deal with urgent items, especially anything letting water in or posing a safety risk, first.
• Maintenance plan. Write down what needs doing, by whom and when: gutters cleared twice a year, roofs checked after storms, drains rodded, gratings cleared.
• Log book. Record every inspection, repair and alteration. In the Church of England, the log book, terrier and inventory are statutory records.
• Budget. Spread costs over the five years, and keep a reserve for emergencies.
• Specification. Larger repairs should be specified and supervised by the inspecting architect or surveyor. See our guide to writing a conservation specification.

Rainwater: the most important maintenance task

Blocked and defective rainwater goods cause more damage to churches than almost anything else, and keeping them working is cheap compared with the repairs that follow failure.

• Clear gutters, parapet and valley gutters, hoppers, outlets and gullies at least twice a year, after leaf fall in late autumn and again in spring, and more often under trees.
• Check in heavy rain. Watching the building in a downpour shows overflowing gutters, leaking joints and blocked downpipes better than any dry-day inspection.
• Keep drains running. Gullies and below-ground drains should carry water well away from the walls, and be rodded or surveyed if they back up.
• Fit guards where birds and leaves block outlets, and check them regularly.
• Repair and paint cast iron before it rusts through. Replace broken sections with matching cast iron profiles, and size new or replacement gutters and downpipes for the roof area and modern rainfall.
• Check parapet and valley gutters closely, as failures there let water straight into the walls and roof timbers.

Our guide to rainwater disposal on historic buildings covers sizing, materials and repair in more detail.

Roofs, leadwork and metal theft

Church roofs are large, exposed and often covered in lead, which makes them valuable targets for theft.

• Inspection. Check roofs from the ground and safe vantage points after storms, and arrange close inspection as recommended in the quinquennial report.
• Repairs. Slipped slates and tiles, split lead and failed flashings let water in quickly. Repair them promptly. See our guide to historic roofs, coverings and leadwork.
• Security. Roof alarms, forensic marking of metal, security lighting, removing climbing aids such as water butts and bins, and good relations with neighbours all deter theft. Check your insurer’s requirements.
• After a theft. Make the roof temporarily watertight, report the theft to the police and your insurer, and contact the archdeacon or DAC about replacement. Replacing lead with another material needs permission.

Towers, spires and bells

Towers and spires are the hardest parts of a church to reach and inspect, so problems there often go unnoticed.

• Access. Close inspection of towers and spires usually needs steeplejacks, rope access or scaffolding. Drone surveys can give a useful first look without access.
• Louvres and openings. Belfry louvres should keep rain and birds out while ventilating the tower. Fit bird mesh behind them and clear debris and nesting material.
• Bells and frames. Bells, fittings and frames should be inspected regularly by a bell hanger or the diocesan bells adviser. The movement of ringing bells puts loads on the tower.
• Weathervanes, crosses and finials need checking, as corroded fixings can let them fall.
• Clocks need regular maintenance and the clock room kept dry.

Lightning protection

Towers and spires are the highest points in most communities, and lightning protection systems are a common and important feature of church buildings.

• Systems should be designed, installed and tested to the current British Standard, BS EN 62305, by a specialist contractor.
• Regular testing and inspection should be carried out as recommended by the installer, and the results recorded in the log book.
• Copper tapes and earth rods are sometimes stolen. Check them after any theft from the building and report missing components.
• New conductors should be routed discreetly, following the lines of the building, with fixings agreed with the inspecting architect.

Walls, stonework and windows

Stone and brick walls, tracery and windows are long-lasting, but they suffer when water is allowed to run down them or is trapped by cement.

• Use lime mortars for pointing and repairs, and remove cement pointing where it is causing damage, as part of planned work. See our guides to historic stonework and historic stonemasonry.
• Control ivy and vegetation on walls and roofs before roots get into joints.
• Keep ground levels low and drainage working at the foot of the walls.
• Check stained glass, leaded lights and ferramenta, and maintain window guards. See our guide to stained glass and leaded lights.

Interiors: damp, heating and contents

The interior of a church is a fragile environment: damp, condensation and sudden heating cause much of the damage to plaster, wall paintings, timber, organs and furnishings.

• Damp. Find the source before treating it. Most damp in churches comes from defective rainwater goods, high ground levels or blocked drains. See our guide to damp in historic buildings.
• Ventilation. Open the building on dry days and keep vents clear.
• Heating. Gentle, steady background heating is kinder to the building and its contents than rapid heating for services. Heating the people, for example with pew heaters or radiant panels, can be more efficient than heating the whole space. The Church of England aims for net zero carbon by 2030, and its guidance on heating churches is a useful starting point. See our guide to energy efficiency and heating in historic buildings.
• Contents. Wall paintings, monuments, stained glass, textiles, bells and organs need specialist conservators. Don’t clean, repaint or move them without advice.
• Fire safety. Hot work, such as lead welding or paint stripping with heat, is a major cause of church fires. Insist on a hot work permit and the precautions your insurer requires.

Bats and other wildlife

Many churches are home to bats, and all bat species in Great Britain and their roosts are protected by law.

• Before work that could affect bats, such as roof repairs, work in roof voids, lighting changes or work to trees, get a bat survey by a licensed ecologist. A licence from the relevant nature conservation body may be needed.
• Time work to avoid sensitive periods such as maternity and hibernation, as advised by the ecologist.
• Bat droppings and urine can damage monuments, brasses and furnishings. Protective covers and careful cleaning help, and the Bats in Churches project has published practical guidance.
• Nesting birds are also protected. Clear nests and fit guards outside the nesting season.

Churchyards, trees, memorials and walls

The churchyard is part of the setting of the church and often contains listed monuments, walls and gates of its own.

• Trees. Trees near the building block gutters, damage roofs and drains and can threaten foundations. Have them inspected regularly. Work to trees may need permission and, in conservation areas or under a tree preservation order, notice to the local authority.
• Memorials. Unstable headstones and monuments can be a safety risk. Follow your denomination’s guidance on inspecting and making them safe, rather than laying them flat without advice.
• Walls, railings and gates. Churchyard walls are often a significant cost. Repair them with lime mortars and matching stone, and maintain ironwork. See our guide to historic ironwork.
• Archaeology. Churchyards and church floors contain burials and archaeology. Ground works, new drainage and service trenches may need an archaeological watching brief.

Permissions: faculty and the ecclesiastical exemption

Most denominations in England and Wales with large numbers of historic churches operate their own approval systems under the ecclesiastical exemption, which replaces Listed Building Consent for works to the church building itself.

• Church of England. Work is controlled by the faculty jurisdiction. Minor maintenance and repairs on List A can usually be done without formal permission; works on List B need written notice from the archdeacon; everything else needs a faculty from the diocesan chancellor, usually after advice from the DAC. Applications are made through the diocese’s online system.
• Other exempt denominations, including the Roman Catholic Church, the Methodist Church, the Baptist Union, the United Reformed Church and the Church in Wales, have their own committees and procedures.
• What remains. The exemption does not remove the need for planning permission for external works that need it, or for building regulations, scheduled monument consent or wildlife licences. Listed structures in the churchyard may still need Listed Building Consent.
• Non-exempt places of worship need Listed Building Consent in the normal way. Arrangements in Scotland and Northern Ireland differ.

Talk to the archdeacon, DAC secretary or denominational buildings officer before planning works. Our guide to Listed Building Consent covers the secular system.

Funding repairs

Grants are available for church repairs, but funders usually expect a recent inspection report, a clear specification and evidence that the building is being maintained.

• The National Churches Trust and many county historic churches trusts offer repair and maintenance grants.
• Historic England, Cadw and their equivalents may fund urgent repairs to listed places of worship, particularly those on the Heritage at Risk Register.
• Charitable trusts and local fundraising often make up the balance.
• VAT relief schemes for listed places of worship have changed in recent years; check the current position before budgeting.

A well-kept log book and maintenance plan strengthen any grant application.

Appointing architects and contractors

Church repairs should be specified and supervised by the inspecting architect or surveyor, and carried out by contractors with experience of historic church buildings.

• Choose an inspecting architect or surveyor with conservation accreditation, approved by the DAC where required.
• Tender larger works to several suitable contractors against a clear specification.
• Under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations, the parochial church council or trustees are the client and have legal duties for health and safety.
• Check insurance, hot work procedures and method statements for working at height and near the public.
• Volunteers should only do work that is safe from the ground, such as clearing low-level gullies and gratings. Leave roofs, ladders and towers to professionals.

Common mistakes

Mistake	Consequence
Leaving gutters, hoppers and gullies uncleared	Water pouring into walls and roofs, rot, damp and expensive repairs
Not acting on the quinquennial report	Small defects growing into major repairs between inspections
Volunteers working on roofs or ladders	Serious accidents; roof and high-level work needs trained, insured contractors
Starting work without the right permission	Unlawful works, possible reversal and damage to the building’s significance
Hot work without a permit and fire precautions	Fire, one of the greatest risks to church buildings
Disturbing bats without a survey or licence	Breaking wildlife law and delays to work
Pointing in cement or repairing stone with cement	Faster decay of stone and brick
Replacing stolen lead without permission or advice	Unsuitable materials, refused applications or invalidated insurance
Rapid, high heating for services	Condensation, cracking of timber and damage to organs and contents
Ignoring trees near the building	Blocked rainwater goods, roof damage and root damage to drains and foundations

Find a specialist

Specialists in the Building Restoration Index who work on church buildings, grouped by the part they play in a project:

Contractors and craftspeople

• Guttering & Pipework — cast iron gutters, downpipes and hoppers
• Steeplejacks & Lightning Protection — tower and spire access, and lightning protection
• Roofing Contractors — church roof repairs in lead, slate, stone and tile
• Leadwork — lead roofs, gutters and flashings
• Stone and Stonework — masonry repairs to walls, towers and tracery
• Decorative & Stained Glass — stained glass conservation and window guards
• Drainage — surface water drains and soakaways
• Wall Painting Conservators — conservation of wall paintings
• Heating and Plumbing — heating systems for churches

Architects, surveyors and engineers

• Architects — inspecting architects and church repair projects
• Surveyors — quinquennial inspections and condition surveys
• Structural Engineers — towers, spires, arcades and roof structures

Consultants and designers

• Heritage Consultants — significance and statements of need
• Archaeologists — watching briefs for churchyards and floors
• Architectural Historians — history and significance of the church

Investigation and recording

• Aerial Drone Surveys — roof and tower inspections without scaffolding
• 3D Scanning — recording towers, interiors and monuments
• Non-Destructive Investigations — surveys of hidden structure and services

Material suppliers

• Lime Mortars & Plasters — lime mortars and plasters
• Roofing Suppliers — slate, stone, tile and lead
• Stone — matching stone for repairs

Advice and training

• Organisations — national amenity societies and trade bodies, including those that publish technical advice
• Courses, Training & Events — courses and events for owners, contractors and professionals

Further reading from Tuscan Foundry

• Care and maintenance of rainwater systems for churches
• Parapet gutters and flat roof drainage on historic buildings
• Hopper head capacity and downpipe sizes by roof area
• Freeze-thaw and winter cracking in cast iron gutters

Related guides

• Rainwater disposal on historic buildings
• Historic roofs, coverings and leadwork
• Stained glass and leaded lights
• All guides in the Technical Library

The Index lists specialists without endorsement; check experience, references and insurance before appointing anyone. Specialists can add a free listing.

Frequently asked questions

What is a quinquennial inspection?

In the Church of England, an inspection of the whole church and its contents at least every five years by an architect or chartered building surveyor approved by the DAC. The report lists repairs in order of urgency and is the basis of the maintenance plan.

Who is responsible for maintaining a Church of England church?

The parochial church council is responsible for the care and repair of the church, with the churchwardens. The archdeacon and the Diocesan Advisory Committee provide oversight and advice.

How often should church gutters be cleared?

At least twice a year, after leaf fall in late autumn and again in spring, and more often where trees overhang the roof. Check them during heavy rain to spot overflows.

Do churches need Listed Building Consent?

Churches of denominations covered by the ecclesiastical exemption, including the Church of England, don’t need Listed Building Consent for most works to the church itself, but need permission through their own system, such as a faculty. Planning permission and other consents may still apply.

What is the difference between List A, List B and a faculty?

In the Church of England, List A covers minor works that can usually be done without formal permission, List B covers works needing written notice from the archdeacon, and everything else needs a faculty from the diocesan chancellor.

Can volunteers clear church gutters?

Only where it can be done safely from the ground or from secure, permanent access. Work on roofs, ladders and towers should be done by trained and insured contractors.

How can we protect a church roof from lead theft?

Roof alarms, forensic marking, security lighting, removing climbing aids and good neighbourhood watch all help. Check your insurer’s requirements, and get advice before replacing stolen lead with another material.

Does a church need lightning protection?

Many churches, especially those with towers and spires, have lightning protection systems. They should be designed and tested to BS EN 62305 by a specialist and inspected regularly.

What should we do if we find bats in the church?

Leave them undisturbed and contact a licensed bat ecologist or the national bat advice service before any work that might affect them. All bat species and roosts in Great Britain are protected by law.

How should a historic church be heated?

Gently and steadily rather than rapidly. Background heating protects the fabric and contents, and heating people directly with pew heaters or radiant panels can be more efficient than heating the whole space.

What grants are available for church repairs?

The National Churches Trust, county historic churches trusts, Historic England or Cadw for urgent repairs to listed buildings, and other charitable trusts. Funders usually want a recent inspection report and a clear specification.

Who can carry out a quinquennial inspection?

In the Church of England, an architect or chartered building surveyor with suitable experience, approved by the DAC. Many dioceses expect conservation accreditation.

What causes damp in old churches?

Most often defective or blocked rainwater goods, high ground levels against the walls, blocked drains, cement pointing and renders, and condensation from intermittent heating.

Do we need permission to repair church gutters and downpipes?

Like-for-like repairs and maintenance often fall within the minor works lists, but replacement, new materials or changes in size or profile may need more formal permission. Check the current lists or ask the archdeacon.

What size gutters and downpipes does a church need?

Sizing depends on roof area, roof pitch and rainfall intensity. Many historic systems are undersized for today’s heavier downpours; a specialist can calculate the right sizes and match historic profiles in cast iron.