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Regeneration Taskforce
The UK’s first taskforce aiming to place historic churches at risk at the heart of community led regeneration has been formed by a partnership of national, public and church bodies, led by the Churches Conservation Trust.
The Regeneration Taskforce builds on the Churches Conservation Trust’s mission to save historic churches at risk by bringing them back into everyday community use. Examples range from circus schools to mental wellbeing centres.
The Regeneration Taskforce is a partnership between the Churches Conservation Trust, English Heritage, The Church of England, Department of Culture, Media and Sport, Development Trusts Association, Media Trust, Princes Regeneration Trust, Lankelly Chase Foundation, Rural Communities Commission and RBS Community Banking. Representatives on these organisations form the advisory group to the Taskforce.
The Regeneration Taskforce will support community groups seeking to use historic churches at risk. The Taskforce will:
- Demonstrate how historic churches can lead the regeneration of urban and rural areas and renew communities, through practical projects that ensure the survival of the churches for future generations to enjoy.
- Work with communities around the 340 historic churches looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust that have the potential for new community use.
- Work with communities around historic parish churches at risk of closure and being brought into the care of the Trust, to explore alternative community uses that keep the church in the heart of the community
Peter Aiers, Major Projects Manager heads the Regeneration Taskforce, supported by Matthew Mckeague, and Rebecca Tate, Regeneration Officers.
At the launch of the Regeneration Taskforce in November 2009, Crispin Truman, Chief Executive of The Churches Conservation Trust said:
“The Regeneration Taskforce will help communities, developers and conservation bodies to save historic churches for future generations by bringing them back into the heart of the community either through a change of use or restorative work.
The Taskforce is a powerful partnership. It is the first time conservation, regeneration, church and community groups have come together in this way. We will use the considerable skills and experience of the Taskforce partners to help communities sensitively adapt historic churches into well loved resources for the whole community.”
Simon Thurley, Chief Executive, English Heritage said: “Historic churches are core to our sense of national history and identity. Yet many face a fight for survival. That is why we are proud to be supporting the CCT Taskforce in their mission to help communities make the most of these important buildings.”
Steve Wyler, Director, Development Trust Association said: “Community and other groups are often baffled by the complexity of adapting Historic Churches for contemporary use. The Regeneration Taskforce will provide specialist support to such groups to not only maximise the potential of the building but also its capacity to be a transformative hub for wider community regeneration.”
Duncan Sloan, Head of Community Banking, RBS said: “Historic churches are magnificent buildings and the CCT Regeneration Taskforce is a way of demonstrating the enormous potential of these living monuments to our history, our stories and our society. We’re delighted to be part of the Taskforce which will save historic churches for future generations and help communities once again delight in using these remarkable buildings.”
Some images from the launch of the Regeneration Taskforce November 2009.
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