Repairing a 1930s Roman Catholic church. Rachel Morley, our Director, speaks to Contracts Manager Martin Nee from Messenger Construction about the repairs at St Mary of the Angels', Brownshill, Gloucestershire.

If you know someone who loves history and heritage, then please follow the link below to purchase a gift membership for the Friends of Friendless Churches. friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk/news/gift-me...

On the 30th November 1905, exactly 120 years ago, our founder, Ivor Bulmer-Thomas, was born in Cwmbran, Monmouthshire. After founding the FoFC in 1957, Ivor saved many churches from ruin, neglect, and demolition. 📷 St Mary's, Mundon, Essex © Christopher Dalton - Saved in 1975

Explore the history and condition of St Tyfrydog's, Llandyfrydog, Anglesey with our Director, Rachel Morley.

In November 1703, a woman and her child in Llanelieu, Powys, were “blown away by the Wind…taken up in the Air two or three yards, and very much Wounded and Bruised by the Fall." 📷 St Ellyw's, Llanelieu, Powys

In the UK, you could demolish a church VAT-free, but if you wanted to repair that church, you would have to pay VAT.

In September, we hosted our first-ever working party at St Michael’s, Castlemartin, Pembrokeshire, showcasing the skills that are needed to repair a historic church.

St James’s, Llangua, Monmouthshire closed due to flooding.

How can you help us save and repair churches this Christmas?   Looking very wintery in this photograph, St Denis’s, East Hatley in Cambridgeshire is an exemplary Friendless Church. 📷 © Peter Mann

This Maintenance Week we thought we’d highlight the reality of maintaining historic churches. Although thought to be a less glamorous aspect of our work, maintenance requires great skills and expertise.

Inside the Roman Catholic chapel at Biddlestone in Northumberland is an intriguing remnant from life on the home front during the Second World War. 1/6

We will remember them. In our churches, there are many reminders of tragic toll of the First World War. On the altar at St Beuno's, Penmorfa in Gwynedd is a simple cross that was carved by Emile de Vynck, a refugee from Belgium, who luckily escaped the conflict on the Continent.

At its core, St Helen's, Barmby on the Marsh is a medieval structure. However, the character of this Yorkshire is largely provided by its later Georgian features. 1/6

Today, November 1st, is All Saints’ Day. All Saints is the second most common church dedication in England, after St Mary. In rural Derbyshire, we care for a church with this very common dedication: All Saints', Ballidon. 📷© CB Newham

‘A Georgian space in Perpendicular form, long, uniform, well-lit – it might be a schoolroom.’ This is how Sir Nikolaus Pevsner, the famous architectural historian, described St Mary’s, Long Crichel in Dorset. 1/6

In September, we hosted our first-ever working party at St Michael’s, Castlemartin, Pembrokeshire, showcasing the skills that are needed to repair a historic church.

With 60 days until Christmas Day, today we are asking when and why did sending Christmas cards become a popular tradition? 📷 Protective Oaks - St Baglan’s, Llanfaglan, Gwynedd - One of this year's cards

Inside the small medieval church of St Michael and All Angels', Gwernesney are five centuries of beautiful woodwork. 1/7

At St John the Baptist's, Allington in Wiltshire, the glowing and glorious Victorian chancel is a bold dash of joyous colour injected into this otherwise relatively simple mid-19th century rebuild of a medieval church.

Why do so many medieval church doors have iron studs on their exterior face? 1/7 📷 - All Images of South Door at St Mary's, Derwen, Denbighshire

St James’s, Llangua on BBC Wales! On the 20th September, BBC Wales ran a segment on our repair project at the beautiful St James’s, Llangua in Monmouthshire.

The beautiful Ayshford Chapel is one of only a handful of medieval chapels of ease that continued to be used for religious services after the Reformation. 1/8

In this video, heritage plasterer Louis Cartwright explains the different options of finish for the interior walls of St Mary’s, Kenderchurch, Herefordshire.

Despite thundery downpours and days of hot sun, repairs have continued at St Andrew’s, South Runcton, Norfolk. 1/7 📷 An autumnal St Andrew's, South Runcton before repairs began

It is thought that more than 80,000 stained glass windows were produced during the Victorian period. Throughout our churches, you can find excellent examples of Victorian stained glass by some of the most noteworthy designers and makers of the 19th century. 📷 Lavers & Barraud - Llangattock

At first glance, the exterior of St Helen’s, Skeffling is rustic and rather unassuming. However, the rounded glacial cobblestones from which the church is built aren’t just any local pebbles. 1/7

On the scaffolding that envelops the tower of Old St Matthew’s, Lightcliffe, West Yorkshire, our architect Kynan Simmons shows the condition of the dome stonework and our contractor Gary Payne explains the challenge of taking down the ball finial and its cast iron pedestal.

Today, 30th September, is the feast day of St Jerome. The church at Llangwm Uchaf in Monmouthshire is dedicated to this fascinating historically important saint. 1/6 All images © Lily Watts

“…built for people who believe and argued not for people who believed and sang or shouted praise.” This was John Betjeman’s reflection upon the simplicity of the design of non-conformist chapels. 1/7

There's Noel time like the present.... We know it's a bit early to be thinking about Christmas, but even so, our charity Christmas cards have been flying off the shelves, and it's only September. 📷 “Protective Oaks” - St Baglan's, Llanfaglan, Gwynedd.

Anne Lister died on this day, 22nd September, in 1840. Today, 185 years later, we are carrying out repairs on the church where her partner, Ann Walker, is buried. 1/11 📷 The cupola of Old St Matthew's, Lightcliffe, West Yorkshire (before repairs)

Tuxlith Chapel in Milland, West Sussex is a curious medieval gem that fell into ruins following the construction of a large Victorian church in the village in the late 19th century. 1/9

‘The church… is not distinguished for any architectural details of importance’. This is what Samuel Lewis wrote about St Mary’s, Penllech in 1833. 1/6

Founded in 1689, Fairfield Friends Meeting House in West Yorkshire is one of the oldest Quaker meeting houses in the world. 1/9

The stunning Georgian interior of St Deiniol’s, Worthenbury has a complete set of original 18th-century box pews, an elegant triple-decker pulpit, and a grand west gallery. 1/7

A marriage of faith, farming, landscape and language, placenames remind us of the personal, poetic origins of a location. This is true for Llangua. 1/10

The eloquent 18th-century Friends Meeting House at Coanwood in Northumberland will be open 8am to 8pm from Friday 12 September to Sunday 21 September for Heritage Open Days. 1/6

The theme of this year’s Heritage Open Days is architecture and, rather fittingly, the three FoFC churches taking part in the South of England have some fascinating architectural features. 1/8 📷 Waddesdon Hill Baptist Chapel © Hestia Architects

Running throughout September, Open Doors is a month-long celebration of Welsh heritage, and many of our churches in Wales will be participating in this year’s programme. 📷 St Mary's, Tal-y-Llyn, Anglesey

In the medieval period, more than 160 churches across England were dedicated to St Giles — and our most recent acquisition, the church at Tadlow in Cambridgeshire, is one of them. Today, September 1st, is the feast day of St Giles. So, who was this popular medieval saint?

Following its closure in 2016, St Michael's, Castlemartin in Pembrokeshire became the 50th church to come into our care. Join us this September for a working party at Castlemartin, where participants will have the opportunity to engage with traditional crafts skills led by an expert team. 1/6

In the north transept of Rhoscrowther church, where the organ now stands, there once would have been the magnificent shrine of St Decumanus. 1/8

Historic graffiti is a common yet often overlooked feature of medieval churches. On 13th September, join us at St Helen’s, Skeffling in Yorkshire for a graffiti recording workshop to learn how to investigate, record, and analyse these fascinating etchings and symbols. 1/5

Repairs are commencing at Old St Matthew's, Lightcliffe, West Yorkshire. In this short video, our Director, Rachel Morley, provides a brief history of Old St Matthew's and an overview of the repairs.

Although we undertake transformative repair projects, such as the recent works at Llangua, much of the day-to-day business of caring for historic churches across England and Wales involves carrying out routine maintenance.

The sanctuary of St Philip’s, Caerdeon is a bejewelled Byzantine-esque treat. In this thread, we will explore the history and details of this beautiful ensemble. 1/7

In this short video, our Director, Rachel Morley, will talk you through the repair project at St Mary of the Angels', Brownshill, Gloucestershire. Please follow the link below to find out more about how you can support our work: friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk/support-the-...

Set in the dramatic landscape of the Northumberland National Park, Biddlestone Roman Catholic Chapel is a beautiful Victorian place of worship built on the foundations of a medieval pele tower. 1/9

St Deiniol’s, Worthenbury is one of the finest Georgian churches in all of Wales and a superb example of Neo-classical architecture. 1/7

Today, August 10th, is the feast of St Lawrence. The church at Gumfreston in Pembrokeshire is one of only a handful of churches in Wales dedicated to the Roman deacon. 📷 St Lawrence's after repairs