Preserving the churches

“A Future for the religious heritage” is a European network of charities, government bodies, universities and religious communities engaged in the protection of religious sites in Europe. Created in 2010 on the initiative of some experts, the network is a non-profit association open to all religions. It starts from a common finding in Europe: the heritage of religious buildings is severely threatened. The decrease in religious attendance, the economic difficulties and the lack of knowledge about the conservation of buildings and the treasures cherished within, contribute to the gradual crumbling of a crucial part of continental history. The principle that guides the action of FRH is: “people do not need churches perfectly restored; they need open churches”, said Petr Wollner, responsible for the places of worship in the archdiocese of Prague. The problem of Cyprus. The associative action moves in various directions and touches several countries. Here are some examples, starting with Cyprus. Thirty-nine years of conflict on the island, divided between Greek-Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, said Hülya Yüceer (University of Adana, Turkey), “led to the oblivion of memory” and the religious buildings – both churches and mosques – no longer in use have deteriorated and fallen into disrepair or have been used for other purposes. Today, due to the economic crisis, and to the high number of churches, monasteries and chapels in need of restoration, “this is not considered a priority, regardless of the ethnic and religious affiliations”. Apart from some conservation projects financed by international organizations carried out on “significant” religious sites, the local communities act as custodians of this heritage. “They have an important role, assigning new uses to the buildings : cultural centers, handicraft workshops for women or centers of folk dance… This is a temporary and pragmatic solution , through “modest reuse projects”: the buildings are subjected to minimal changes in the knowledge that one day these churches could, indeed should, go back to their legitimate owners, if one day  the reunification of Cyprus were to take place. The case of Holland. For Lilian Grootswagers, secretary of the board of FRH and director of erfgoed.nu, a Dutch body for the protection of monuments, approximately from 600 to 700 Catholic buildings will become disused by 2018,  400 to 500 are Protestant sites. No more than 12 monasteries shall survive. In recent years, the Netherlands has, however, increased its awareness on the historical, social, urban, religious and economic value of this heritage thereby revitalizing public sensitivity and attention to these buildings in the Year of Religious heritage 2008, with results on the political front and within the churches themselves. Also the citizens have taken action, with the establishment in 2006 of a national an independent movement. “Reliwiki”, a Dutch Wikipedia with figures, images, and information on religious heritage was set up in 2008. Until a few years ago the cheapest – thus only possible – solution was the tearing down of disused buildings. Today churches and religious property serve as the venues of various initiatives: cultural centres, museums, concert halls, multifunctional centres or even hotels and residential areas. Moreover, uses that are more or less in line with the history and the high symbolical value of the buildings. An important example is the Portuguese synagogue in Amsterdam that serves as a place of worship and as an exhibit hall.  Preservation of religious ornaments. In England “The Curches Conservation Trust”, a non-profit organization set up by the Anglican Church, since 1969 has recuperated 340 “unique historical religious buildings” to “ensure their enjoyment by the next generations”, said Crispin Truman, director of the association, during a recent seminar promoted by FRH in Utrecht, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, past November 4-5, on the “mobile heritage” of religious property (sacred objects, textiles, works of art, sculptures…). The seminar highlighted the extent to which many European countries – notably Denmark, Sweden and Scotland – are experiencing a consistent spoliation of the churches. Sacred objects and religious ornaments, if unguarded, are subject to theft, acts of vandalism, deterioration, and fall into the hands of ruthless traffickers and art collectors. Participants in the seminar launched an appeal so that the European Union may step up the protection of the religious heritage in Europe: “The care and preservation of religious heritage serves the purpose of social cohesion. It is a way to learn more about past and present Europe”, 130 experts wrote in a joint statement.