Churchwarden's Checklist
Things to regularly look out for
Rising damp, blocked drains and gutters, poor ventilation, faulty wiring, insecure windows and doors, the unserviced boiler, the slipped slate and crumbling stonework can all lead to problems and expensive repairs if not spotted and treated quickly.
Water is probably the greatest single cause of damage to buildings. Second is poor ventilation, followed by faulty electrical wiring (which is the cause of most fires) and poor security that lets thieves and vandals in.
Check List
• Drains and gutters. These should be cleared at least once a year once any leaves from surrounding trees are down.
• Weeds and green growth round the base of walls should be removed.
• Good ventilation will reduce internal condensation
• Problems with the roof such as slipped or damaged tiles need looking out for. Internal damp patches may be a clue to something wrong with the roof.
• Check windows and doors to see that they are secure.
• Old, trailing or loose wiring is the cause of many fires.
• Churchyard care - not just organising getting the grass cut but looking out for dangerous or loose tombstones, broken glass, dead branches on trees.
• The boiler should be service annually and worth checking late summer to make sure that it will work when you do need it.
• Churchyard walls and fences
• Valley gutters which may be out of sight still need regular cleaning.
• Fire extinguishers need annual maintenance.
• The Log Book and Inventory need to be kept up to date and ready for your parish Inspection.
• Spring Clean - an annual event inside and out.
• Clean tower and belfry - birds love bell towers.
• Beetles and dry rot. Watch out for unwanted signs which show you have unwanted visitors - dust (woodworm), droppings (mice or death-watch beetles) growths on walls and woodwork (which may be dry rot).
There are more details to help churchwardens discover more about the role and identify things that need doing on the Churchcare website at www.churchcare.co.uk
There may be other people from the parish who could help when it comes to doing the regular jobs around the church and churchyard.
If in doubt about anything contact your archdeacon - archdeacon.of.auckland@durham.anglican.org archdeacon.of.durham@durham.anglican.org archdeacon.of.sunderland@durham.anglican.org
or Bill Heslop (DAC secretary) at the Diocesan Office.