1. About Church Recording
  2. A brief history of Church Recording

A brief history of Church Recording

 

1973    NADFAS Church Recorders were formed.  Their first Chairman was Ann Parkinson (now The Lady Parkinson).  Their formation followed from a pilot scheme undertaken in Buckinghamshire in 1972 with a great deal of help from Sir John Pope Hennessey, then Director of the Victoria & Albert Museum. The Scheme was granted an award from Kodak, the last one granted by the Company.

 

1988    Inside Churches by Patricia Dirsztay first published, replacing Church Furnishings published in 1978.

 

1990    The Recorders were honoured with a National Art-Collections Fund Award for their           work.  At this time they had recorded 400 churches.

 

1994    First Scottish Church Recorders groups start in the Borders and Stirlingshire

 

1995    Recognition of the importance of the work of Church Reorders by the RCHME (now English Heritage)

 

1997    Church Recorders' silver jubilee celebrations culminated with a day at Manchester Cathedral where they were honoured to receive NADFAS Patron HRH The Duchess of Gloucester.  By now 750 churches had been recorded.

 

2001    Achieved the major landmark of the completion of the 1000th Record. This accomplishment was celebrated at St Bartholomew the Great, in the presence of the Bishop of London, who endorsed the valuable and unique work that NADFAS Church Recorders, (all volunteers) have been doing tirelessly for the last 30 years

 

2002    30th anniversary celebrated with 3 cathedral study days at Chichester, Norwich and Chester.

 

2012   Over 1650 Records completed and the Church Records on line Index launched at             the national NADFAS AGM in May.

 

2013   40th anniversary of all NADFAS volunteering activities including Church Recording celebrated at a Festival of Volunteering at Kensington Town Hall in November which was attended by NADFAS patron, HRH the Duchess of Gloucester. Over 1700 Records completed