Introduction to Community Ownership of Rural Church Buildings

Wednesday 23 September 2026, 11am-3pm

Is your community group considering taking on — or already managing — a rural place of worship? 

Caring for a historic building is a significant responsibility, and this introductory day will help you understand the practical steps needed to keep your building in good condition and support the long-term success of your project. Through a mixture of talks, workshop sessions, and practical activities, participants will gain a clearer understanding of both building care and day-to-day operations management. 

Our expert speakers and workshop leaders will cover topics including fire safety, health and safety, building maintenance, safeguarding, keyholder responsibilities, facilities and operations management, and planning for long-term sustainability. Contributors will include representatives from Development Trusts Association Scotland, Bedrule Community Group, and SPAB Scotland. 

You’ll also have the opportunity to put your learning into practice through a short hands-on exercise examining the host building, inside and out, to identify maintenance issues and areas of vulnerability. There will be time to discuss the specific needs of your own building with course tutors and fellow participants. 

Alongside practical knowledge and advice, participants will leave with a toolkit of resources to help support future decision-making and the ongoing care and management of their building. With a better understanding of traditional building construction and the practical application of modern regulations, you’ll leave equipped with the knowledge and confidence to take your project forward. 

Who is this course for?

This course is aimed at community groups who have either already taken ownership of a church building, or are considering doing so in the near future. Community group representatives, and their professional advisors are all very welcome, as are those with a more general interest in facilities management and maintenance of historic buildings.  

Your community group does not have to be ‘fully formed’ - in fact this will be very useful for those in the fledgling stages. 

You will learn

By the end of this course, you will understand 

• Building maintenance basics and why they are important 

• Health and Safety Regulations relevant to the situation 

• Fire and Insurance requirements 

• Keyholders, safeguarding and much more 

Course Tutors

Andrew Aldous – specialist in Facilities Management for Development Trust Association Scotland (DTAS) 
Claire Martin – Church specialist for DTAS 
Roger Curtis – Conservation Building Surveyor 
Lucy Stewart – Conservation Architect, SPAB Scholar and Scotland Officer for SPAB Scotland 
Alan Bailey – Chair, Bedrule Church Future & Building Surveyor (ret’d) 

Assessment / Accreditation

There is no formal assessment for this course, but we can provide a Certificate of Attendance upon request. 

You will need

Please wear warm, comfortable layers and sturdy and closed shoes. We recommend bringing a raincoat or umbrella for the practical exercise as part of it will be outdoors. 

Lunch is provided, and we will supply refreshments on arrival. 

Accessibility

• Seating is available during the presentations in the church hall. The observation exercise involves a 20-minute walk inside and outside the church, with periods of standing and looking upwards. 

• The church is accessible on a flat path with a short flight of steps into the church hall. There may be uneven surfaces in and around the church 

• Wheel chair access is available from the parking near the Church via the rear Vestry door 

• There is limited on-street parking near the church – please be respectful of residents needs. Toilets are available 

• There is no public transport to Bedrule.  Trains run from Edinburgh to Hawick - we may be able to arrange collections from a local train/bus terminus. 

Anything we can do to make this event more accessible for you? Please email education@spab.org.uk. 

Sponsors and Partners

We are grateful to Historic Environment Scotland for funding this event.  

Thanks are due also to Development Trust Association Scotland for supporting this event as part of their wider work with community bodies owning or buying Church buildings. 

Photos and filming:We may take photos or videos at this event to be used in future promotion, including in print and online. Participants may take photos and short videos for personal use, with permission of the course leader and all other participants in frame. If you want to post on social media, please message SPAB's Comms Team (press@spab.org.uk or @spab1877) for permission. If your material is good, we might ask to share it with our followers.

All bookings are subject to our Terms and Conditions.

Photo credit: Bedrule Church Future