The plans

Where a church file includes a plan, it has been digitised and is available online. All 12,600 plans included in the archive have been digitised.

In every case the files contain original material in addition to the plans and drawings; this has NOT been digitised. The plans were selected because they encapsulate the architectural changes or proposals the parishes were planning. The size of the archive (over 16,000 files and other records, nearly 21 cubic metres) would make the task of digitising every piece of paper an extremely large and complex one. The only feasible way to balance the needs of researchers to access information in the archive and the practicalities of such a potentially massive project is to make available the extensive information in the finding aid database supported by the digital images of the plans.

The online database

The database records the name of the church applying for a grant, its county and diocese at the time of application, the reasons for applying, the covering dates of the records in the archive relating to that church, details of plans and photographs in the files (with links to digital images of plans), names of architects & other professionals involved with the work, the outcome of the grant application, and references to entries in the Society's minute books where the size of grant and progress is recorded.

Searching the database

There are two methods of searching the database: Basic and Advanced. You can view the Help file if you need any help with searching.