Caring for Welsh churches? Welsh-language 'how to' videos just launched

We have launched our first Welsh-language maintenance videos series. The Cadw-funded video series focuses on how to care for Welsh churches and offers up easy-to-follow tips for church volunteers and wardens caring for these important buildings. 

Presented by SPAB caseworker and conservation architect, Elgan Jones, the videos cover everything from how to check a church roof for damage, safely from the ground, to how best to identify damp and decay inside a church building.

The series covers five broad topics: 
How to Maintain Church Interiors 
How to Maintain Church Exteriors 
How to Maintain Church Roofs 
How to Maintain Church Building Services 
How to Maintain Church Rainwater Goods 

We know that carrying out simple, regular maintenance tasks will save money on expensive repairs further down the line, and allow us to live more sustainably. A well-maintained building is not only likely to last longer, it is also most likely to be energy efficient. Damp is the most common cause of damage affecting buildings of all ages. Dry walls are better insulators than ones that are wet, and regular maintenance can help you spot a small problem before it becomes a larger, more costly one. Luckily small steps to keep a building dry can make a big difference. Clearing gutters and checking your roof’s condition once a year are simple ways to help prevent rainwater damage.   

Elgan Jones, SPAB caseworker and video presenter says: "We wanted to create a series of simple maintenance videos to emphasise its importance and help volunteers and wardens, who give up so much of their time to care for these buildings. We are thankful to St Marcellas Church in Denbigh and St Marys Church in Conwy for their support and for allowing us to film in these stunning locations. It was also important that the videos are presented in the Welsh language, this allows us to support communities where Welsh is the primary language spoken."

For more information about looking after your old building, call the SPAB’s helpline open from Monday to Friday between 9.30am -12.30pm on 020 7456 0916. There are building conservation experts on hand to answer your questions and can provide names of professionals in your area, if needed.