27/03/2024
The Church Building Council established a new Contested Heritage Committee in 2022 to focus on the Church’s priority of racial justice as it is manifested in the material culture in our churches and cathedrals.
The committee:
- advises the Church Buildings Council and Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England on matters relating to contested heritage policy
- provides advice to the Council on faculty applications relating to contested heritage referred to the Council by parishes, dioceses or Chancellors
- provides advice to the Commission on applications submitted by Chapters relating to contested heritage
- supports the Cathedral and Church Buildings Department in identifying and prioritising resources needed by parishes, dioceses and cathedrals with their work around contested heritage
- supports the Cathedral and Church Buildings Department in providing appropriate national guidance and supporting case studies
- advises the Council on long-term needs relating to contested heritage
The Committee’s focus is on racial justice, though it may consider objects associated with other forms of contested heritage. The committee meets 3-4 times a year, as needed, either in person at Church House, London, or online. Business is also conducted via email. Site visits will sometimes be undertaken, with an expectation of 1-2 visits per year per member.
There are currently two vacancies on the Committee, and experts are sought in the following areas:
- Social and economic history, specifically knowledge of 17th-19th Century slavery and industrial history
- 17-19th Century ecclesiastical sculpture, monuments and memorials
- Visual culture, with a strong understanding of the interplay of politics, art and cultural boundaries; the implicit and explicit representations of works of art, their display, and impact on communities; an understanding of ecclesiastical objects within their spatial context.
- Communications experience relevant to advice on communicating evidence-based narratives, with community liaison experience to promote engagement, offer strategies for increasing representation, and provide strategies to assist in communicating different issues to stakeholders
- Interpretation of ecclesiastical culture.
- Liturgist with an understanding of racial justice.
We would also be interested to hear from people who feel that they have a contribution to make but are still gaining experience in this area and are new to working with a committee. We have a participant-observer role to help develop future committee members by working with peers already on the committee.
We anticipate holding online interviews in the week of 22 April, with the possibility of attending the Contested Heritage Committee on 1 May.
Please contact Dr David Knight with your expression of interest , including a supporting letter and CV to [email protected]
The deadline for applications is the 19th of April, 2024.