Nottingham Civic Society - Southwell Diocesan Church History Project

The Southwell Diocesan Advisory Committee's
Church History Project was founded in 1998,
partly in response to the DAC's need to collect historical information for its work in the diocese, and partly to build on existing work on the history of Nottinghamshire churches. This work was pioneered by John Severn, a Nottingham architect, who sadly died before ho was able to see the Project come to fruition.

A Project Management Team was subsequently formed, which consists of the DAC's Chairman, the Revd Keith Turner, vicar of Papplewick and Linby; DAC Secretary Mr Stephen Langford; the Revd Dr David Harper of Bingham; Professor John Beckett of the University of Nottingham; Dr Chris Brooke; Mrs Rosemary Gatie and myself, who deal with the administration. The Team is looking for volunteers (working individually or in small groups) to record the 314 churches and over 100 other former churches and church sites in the diocese. We aim to enter all submissions onto the project's website:
http://southwellchurches.nottingham.ac.uk
This, the Church of England's first Church History website, was officially launched in February 2000 by the Rt Revd George Cassidy, Bishop of Southwell, and Sir Andrew Buchanan, Lord Lieutenant.

Among dioceses in this country, Southwell is leading the way in collecting historic information, and in making it available not simply to the DAC but to the wider community. The website will serve as an educational resource for the children of Nottinghamshire to learn more about the church heritage in their county.

Each church and site has a page on the website, and each page includes an account of the history and archaeology of the church, and related information on church bells, monuments, furnishings, glass, war memorials, and graveyards, and will include plans and photographs.

A comprehensive briefing paper will be given to volunteers, to guide them through the relevant stages on how to research and write up their entries. No previous experience is necessary.

To register your interest, or for more information contact the Project Manager, Janice Avery tel (0115) 951 5929; fax (0115) 9515948
or e-mail: janice.avery@nottingham.ac.uk

Janice Avery
April 2002