Annual Appeal: Layers of Time, Protecting our Painted Heritage
Across the 357 historic churches in Churches Conservation Trust’s care, over 80 contain historic wall paintings, and many more house painted artworks, memorials and monuments — making CCT one of the most significant stewards of this fragile and nationally important heritage.
These paintings are some of the only surviving visual narratives that bring to life the colours, symbols, and stories that shaped the lives of generations long gone. Yet many are now at risk of being lost forever.
Wall painting conservation is a painstaking process, working flake by flake, stabilising pigments and fragile plaster — costing between £1,000 and £3,000 per square metre. Across CCT churches, a significant number of wall paintings require our urgent attention, and we need your help to conserve them.
Donate today to this appeal on our website, or by calling 0800 206 1463, and help us save the nation’s irreplaceable artwork.
Your donation could help conserve treasures like:
• Bedern Board at Holy Trinity Church, York, a unique memorial to the boys of Bedern School who served in the Great War. Their fates are recorded in red ink on vellum — but time has faded their stories. We urgently need £2,000 to conserve this simple but powerful piece of York’s social history.
• St James’ Church, Cameley, Somerset, contains a rare survival of layered wall paintings from 13th to 15th centuries. The surfaces are cracking, lifting, and are at risk of collapse. We must raise £35,000 to stablise this exceptional artistic legacy.
These are just two of many projects in need — and together with your support we can help ensure that generations to come enjoy these unique pieces.
Please donate today. Your gift will help these extraordinary artworks endure the tests of time.
Help us save the nation’s irreplaceable artwork.
