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.
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 13th of May, 2024.