NADFAS – WEST SURREY AREA

CHURCH RECORDING

As part of its commitment to protect our national heritage, NADFAS encourages its member societies to set up Church Recording (CR) groups. The activity of recording the contents and internal fabric of a church is highly educational to anyone interested in the fine arts and appeals to people who want to do something practical, as well as developing their own knowledge in depth. It is also a lot of fun, challenging the grey cells and working with others! The final objective is to produce for each church an illustrated and professional inventory, copies of which are lodged with the National Monuments Record [NMR] at English Heritage, the Council for the Care of Churches [CCC], the V&A Museum, the relevant County Record Office and of course the church itself.

Over the last 35 years NADFAS societies in the UK and abroad have recorded about 1,500 churches of all denominations. These Records have proved valuable not only to experts in fine arts and to historians, but have also helped to restore or recover objects which became damaged or lost through natural causes or through theft and vandalism. Insurance companies, NADFAS and other local charitable bodies therefore encourage the recording by giving financial support to CR groups.

NADFAS societies in the West Surrey Area are currently involved in the recording of churches. The photograph is of St. Mary, Thorpe - we have recently updated the original Church Record produced by Runnymede DFAS in 1998.

Please see the West Surrey News Bulletin Board for the latest information on training days, workshops and other CR events in the Area. Please see the Church Trails page of this website for Church Trails for Children, the first of which in our area has just been completed.

Current projects are:

	St Anne, Bagshot. Recording by Camberley DFAS began in February 2008, their Record of St Peter, Frimley having been presented in 2007.
	St Lawrence, Chobham. Recording by members of Windlebrook, Ascot, Englemere and Surrey Heath DFAS began in February 2005. It is planned to complete and present the record ealy in 2010.
	St Peter & St Paul, Ewhurst. Recording by Cranleigh DFAS began in June 2000, and it is hoped to complete it in 2010.
	St Nicolas, Guildford. Recording by members of Shalford, Guildford evening and The Wey Valley DFAS began in June 2007, their Record of Holy Trinity, Guildford having been presented in May 2007.
	St Christopher, Haslemere. Recording by members of Haslemere DFAS, began in January 2009, their first CR project.
	St Mary Magdalene, Littleton. Recording by members of Walton & Hersham DFAS began in June 2006, supporting Claremont DFAS (Greater London Area). The Record is now being compiled
	All Saints, Odiham. Recording by Farnham DFAS and Cobbett’s Wey DFAS began in September 2004, with the assistance of members of Greyshott DFAS (Hampshire Area). It is complete and the record was presented in November 2009.
	St Mary, Thorpe. Members from Surrey Heath DFAS and Windlebrook DFAS have recently completed an update of this Record which was originally presented in 1998.
	St Michael & All Angels, Thursley. Recording by Farnham DFAS and Cobbett’s Wey DFAS began in May 2008.
	St Bartholomew, Wanborough. Recording by Windlebrook DFAS began in January 2009, supported by Recorders from other nearby DFAS.
	St Mary the Virgin, Worplesdon. Recording by Woking DFAS began in September 2005 and is now complete. It was presented in January 2010.
	St Mary the Virgin, Horsell. This project started in April 2009, led by Woking DFAS and supported by Recorders from Mayford DFAS.
	St Andrew, Cobham. An Addendum, updating the original Record produced by Claremont DFAS in 1986, is being produced by members of Walton & Hersham DFAS, supporting Claremont DFAS (Greater London Area).
	St Nicholas, Shepperton. Recording by members of Walton & Hersham DFAS began in April 2010, supporting Claremont DFAS and Richmond DFAS(Greater London Area).

There are many more churches to record in our area and our societies are always keen to welcome new Church Recorders - previous experience is not required and training will be provided to new recruits. If you would like to be involved, please contact your nearest society or email the Church Recording Area Representative (Roger Allen) at:

ChurchRecording@nadfas-westsurreyarea.org.uk

Possible future Projects are: