Reflections on Church Tourism

 

“Reflections on Church Tourism” is the title of a new CD-ROM resource, produced as a joint project of The Diocese of York and the Churches Tourism Association and launched at the CTA's 2012 Convention on 19th November.

The content of the CD Rom is a series of helpful chapters on how to tackle tourism issues from several standpoints using a wide variety of real solutions in large and small churches across England, Scotland and Wales and providing a directory of resources. It also includes many “clickable” links to relevant web content, thus offering a convenient starting point for accessing further up-to-date resources maintained by CTA, dioceses and other organisations. Clergy, PCCs and individuals will find it useful as training tool. PRICE: £9 including p&p

 

The CD ROM is available at:

 

http://www.churchestourismassociation.info/resources-for-churches-mainmenu-56/reflections-cd

New Look Parish Resources Website

Just a note to check out the new look Parish Resources Website:

www.parishresources.org.uk

The website is a one stop shop for all types of web based resources to help you save money, understand your finances, buy cheaper and raise money. It has been brought together by Archbishops Council from National and Local resources. It also has really useful information about PCC governance and charity registration. A must read for any PCC member...  

Inspiring Churches Conference - Postponement

Please note that the Inspiring Churches Conference has been postponed until Saturday 9th February so please don't turn up on Saturday. We'd love to see you in February and I shall post more information nearer the time.

Inspiring Churches Conference

Just to remind you to book your place on the Inspiring Churches Conference taking place on Saturday 8th December, 10-4. It should be an excellent day with first class speakers on all the practicalities of developing your church project. Why not come to Leeds for the day and get your Christmas shopping done at the same time.

You can book your place by:

ringing 0113 2000540

emailing Alice.Ullathorne@riponleeds-diocese.org.uk 

or visiting http://www.riponleeds.anglican.org/inspiring-churches.html

Building Communities - St Philip's Centre

This is a fantastic example of how to use space in church buildings for community uses. In this case it is in the church hall but could just as easily happen within the church itself. The current project was funded by a Landfill Community Grant from Biffaward and really showed what can be done with very little cash. The St Philip's Centre in Osmondthorpe in Leeds used the £3,788.20 to replace windows and make their centre safer for their users.

Inspiring Churches: Practical resources to develop your church projects

Saturday 8^th December 2012, 10-4

St George’s Centre, Great George Street, Leeds. LS1 3BR

Ticket Price £10 including lunch

To book: ring 0113 2000540

email Alice.Ullathorne@riponleeds-diocese.org.uk 

or visit http://www.riponleeds.anglican.org/inspiring-churches.html

The day includes Keynote from Maggie Durran (author and church development consultant), case studies and practical ideas and workshops from how to fund a youth project to shrinking the footprint of your church building

Workshops include:

New Look Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme

Details have been released this week of the new look Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. The scheme has been running since 2001 as a way to enable Listed churches to reclaim VAT for repairs and maintenance. Changes to the Scheme and points of note are:

• the government are confident that increased budgets (£42 million annual budget) will now mean claims will be refunded in full
• the scope of the scheme has been widened to include approved alterations including plumbing and electrical works; works to kitchens, toilets, floor coverings and handrails; decoration; work to pews; asbestos removal and security measures
• The scheme will be administered on a monthly basis so that churches are out of pocket for as little time as possible

Do remember to reclaim your VAT for repairs, maintenance and approved alterations but do note that your claim will only be eligible if:

1.       the invoice or invoices are worth over £1,000 excluding VAT

2.       You make your claim within 12 months of the invoice date

3.       You use a VAT registered contractor and have a VAT invoice

If you have any queries don't hesitate to contact me at the Diocesan Office.

Great Church Building Example

Here's a great example of a reordering scheme at Kirkby Overblow that has created a flexible multi-use space within the church that meets the needs of the worshipping congregation as well as allowing the church to hire out the church for a range of activities from theatrical productions to banquets.

The Church of England has welcomed an agreement with the Government over the future funding of alterations and repairs to its 12,500 listed buildings, which will provide £30 million a year extra money. This is on top of the £12 million already in the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme (LPWGS).

Despite not persuading the Government that maintaining zero rated VAT for alterations is the best way forward, church leaders said that the £30 million a year extra money that the Chancellor has committed to the LPWGS will enable the equivalent to the VAT bill to be paid out on all alterations and repairs to listed church buildings.  The Scheme pays out to those denominations and faiths with listed buildings

The LPWGS will in future be ring fenced and no longer vulnerable to cuts in departmental budgets and it is planned to re-introduce monthly pay outs from October. The scheme will be guaranteed for the duration of this Parliament. Parishes have shown they need a much greater degree of certainty in the funding they receive and this will now be met by ironing out some of the more unhelpful characteristics of the current LPWGS.

Anne Sloman, Chair of the Church Buildings Council said, “the fact that the Treasury offer went from £5million to £30million is a recognition of the tremendous value for money to the nation as a whole that our buildings represent. We are grateful to parishes up and down the land who have lobbied so hard since the Budget to bring this point home to the government, and even more grateful for the massive contribution volunteers make by their efforts, week in and week out, to keep our beautiful churches in good repair for worship and adapted to serve the community in so many creative ways.”

Wakefield Cathedral VAT Ditty

Here's a timely reminder to sign up to the Church Building Council's VAT e-petition to stop the removal of the zero-rating of VAT on Listed Churches:
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/32229

The Government's consultation document can be downloaded at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2012/vat-con-4801.pdf

The following link shows how you can support the campaign to keep the zero-rate:
http://www.theheritagealliance.org.uk/2012/04/17/vat-2012-campaign-toolkit/ 

Olympics 2012 - All the Bells

At 8am on 27th July 2012, thousands of people across the UK will be joining together to ring in the first day of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Everyone across the country is invited to take part.

To Find out more go to:
http://www.allthebells.com/

Budget 2012: proposed abolition of zero-rated VAT for alterations to Listed Buildings

An announcement in the budget on Wednesday (21st) proposed to abolish the zero VAT rating for listed buildings, including churches. If passed after October 2012 churches will probably have to find 20 per cent more money for alterations and other new work.

It is possible that the scope of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme would be extended to these works, however it is unclear how much could be reclaimed, the scheme is already under significant pressure for the repair of listed places of worship (only 46% of the VAT was awarded in the last quarter by the scheme). Also, in the future there are no guarantees that the scheme cannot be reduced in scope again (such as with the removal of profession fees, organs, bells etc).

Natalie Merry, Secretary to the Oxford  DAC, said: “It is incredibly frustrating that the Government has made plans to withdraw the zero rating without even consulting those it will affect the most - charities and churches that have already been badly hit by lead theft and the reduction in the VAT rebate for repairs to historic buildings.

“The sensitive adaptation of historic churches is the key to securing their future. If the Government truly cares about that future it should pay rather more attention to the impact of their policies on those they claim to be supporting.”

The HMRC consultation on the legislation will remain open until 4 May. To object to the proposals email david.roberts4@hmrc.gov.uk This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or contact your local MP.
 

A Faculty for Planning - Kirkby Overblow - Next Tuesday Evening

Next Tuesday we will be holding an event in Kirkby Overblow Church, near Harrogate, to help introduce the faculty and planning processes. There are still places available and if you'd like to come please contact me on 0113 2000544 or at Alice.Ullathorne@riponleeds-diocese.org.uk

The event should help you with questions like:

Do I need a faculty?
Do I need planning permission?
How do I write a Statement of Significance?
How do I write a Statement of Need?

Long time no see

So sorry I haven't been blogging for a while. I'm afraid of late there hasn't been enough hours in the day. I shall post some interesting updates that need to be taken into account today and try to keep in touch better (hours allowing).

The Jerusalem Trust Prize for the Commissioning of New Art in Parish Churches

The Church Buildings Council invites parishes within the 42 dioceses of the Church of England to apply for a one-off prize of £10,000, generously funded by The Jerusalem Trust, to be awarded for the best developed proposal for commissioning a new work of art in their church. The purpose of the prize is to reward an excellently prepared proposal and not to judge and fund a particular artwork. A commission may take any of the following forms:

• Creative textile
• Metalwork
• Glass  
• Painting
• Installation using mixed media
• Sculpture

The essential criterion will be the requirement to use the process outlined in the Council’s

guidance on “Commissioning New Art for Churches”, which is attached and can also be

downloaded from www.churchcare.co.uk/   

The competition has two stages:

Stage 1 – Expression of Interest - Deadline: 29 February 2012 (send to Diana Coulter - see below)

Stage 2 – Final Submission - Deadline 1 October 2012

For further information parishes and DACs are invited to contact Diana Coulter, the

Divisional Support Officer in the Cathedral & Church Buildings Division at:

Diana Coulter

Cathedral & Church Buildings Division

Church House

Great Smith Street

London SW1P 3AZ
Phone:  020 7898 1860

email: diana.coulter@churchofengland.org 

The form, notes and the Guidelines may be downloaded from the churchcare website: http://www.churchcare.co.uk/

2012 - An exciting New Year

We have an exciting year beginning in the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds with opportunities to open our church doors to new people from with and without our communities.

Firstly, at the start of June are the Queen's Jubilee celebrations stretching over an extended weekend from Saturday 2nd June to Tuesday 5th June. This weekend communities are being encouraged to hold community events from the Big Lunch to lighting beacons. Information can be found at:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_197517

I will be sending out further information about the beacons in the next few weeks.

Secondly, the Olympic Torch relay will be travelling through the diocese in June. The dates and places it will be visiting are below:

Tuesday 19 June

Boston Spa, Wetherby, Harewood, Knaresborough, Harrogate, Ripon, York (Evening celebration)

Wednesday 20 June

York, Thirsk, Northallerton, Aiskew, Bedale, Aysgarth, Leyburn, Richmond

Sunday 24 June

Ilkley, Headingley, Potternewton, Harehills, Richmond Hill, Leeds (Evening celebration)

Monday 25 June

Leeds, Hunslet, Beeston, Morley

If the relay is passing your door it's a great opportunity to invite people in for refreshments and to rest their feet.

Before all these national celebrations from Saturday 28th April to Monday 7th May the Treasures Revealed in Leeds week will take place. This is an opportunity to open your doors to new people and explain the treasures of your church.

Finally, on the weekend of the 6th to 9th of September is the Heritage Open Days Weekend. This is a nationally organised and promoted scheme to help people get access to their local heritage, including churches.

So you can see this year more than many others there are ample opportunities to engage new people with our churches. I'll be sending out information in the next few weeks to help you join in with these schemes.