Suffolk’s 478 parish churches are unrivalled for their rich history, architecture and contents.  The work of the Church Recorders of The Arts Society West Suffolk in making a detailed record of the significant things in a Church contributes to national and local archives and is a wealth of information for the Church.  We describe, measure, photograph and research as much as possible and all our field notes are then compiled in a systematic way into the final Record which is presented to the Church as a bound book.  Other copies are made  -  for the Diocese (usually stored in the County Record Office), the Church Buildings Council in Westminster, and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Church Recording was started in 1973 when the V & A had held an exhibition of Church artefacts and became concerned that many churches had no idea what valuable and historic items they owned.  So NADFAS, as The Arts Society was then, was asked to organise the documenting of the contents of churches to a national format and standard.

The national organisation for Church Recording is now the Church Recording Society, a charity belonging to, and run by, all Church Recorders who are members of a local The Arts Society or are supporter members of The Arts Society.

To date, over 2000 churches have been recorded throughout the UK, including 78 churches in Suffolk of which 24 have been recorded by volunteering members of West Suffolk and Bury St Edmunds Church Recorders’ Group, a joint enterprise generously sponsored by the West Suffolk and the Bury St Edmunds Societies.

No previous knowledge is required as training is available, but curiosity and an interest in learning and discovering are necessary!  It is a sociable activity too, being part of a team.  We work in nine sections covering memorials, metalwork, stonework, woodwork, textiles, paintings etc., library, windows and miscellaneous.

More details are on the website www.churchrecordingsociety.org.uk

or contact Sue Medcalf, WS&BStE Group Leader sue.medcalf@hotmail.com