Enrich the List

You have the keys to unlock the secrets of your listed Baptist church! ‘Enrich the List’ with your images and insights into Baptist heritage.

If your church is a listed building, that means that it is included on the National Heritage List for England (NHLE) – and that it is one of the most important examples of Baptist architecture anywhere in the country!

Buildings are added to the List, which is maintained by Historic England, so that they can be understood and protected for the future. However, the List started its life back in 1882 and many pre-1984 entries are very brief – providing little more than a short description of the place. Therefore, while some structures are well-known and even world-famous, for many there is much that remains unknown.

This could be the case with your Baptist chapel – and that is why Historic England are inviting you to share your knowledge and pictures of the building that you spend time in and perhaps help to look after. This crowdsourcing project is called ‘Enrich the List’ – and it asks everyone to help keep the List rich, relevant, and up to date with historical events, social history and architectural information about the sites that matter to them.

Why are we letting you know about Enrich the List?

Historic England have awarded us a National Capacity Building Grant to undertake the Baptists Together Heritage Property Initiative. So far, this has focused on supporting churches with the routine care and maintenance of their listed buildings through Quinquennial Inspection grants and other activities. 

However, with our extension to September 2023, we would also like to help churches to better understand the historically and architecturally significant aspects of their buildings. This is essential if you are ever thinking about making changes to your building to make it fit for missional and community needs!

Why is it important to contribute?

One of the best ways to find out what makes your chapel so special is to check its NHLE List Entry. The most detailed entries can often be used to form the basis of a building’s Statement of Significance. This is the document that describes which features have historic, architectural/artistic or archaeological interest – placing the building’s significance locally, regionally or nationally.

Statements of Significance are required in applications to the Listed Buildings Advisory Committee for Authorisation for works. Improving your chapel’s List Entry will not only inform the planning and prioritisation of maintenance and repair works now, but also act as a resource for you or others looking after the building in the future – when you may want to make changes to it.

What can I add?

Historic England welcomes anything that celebrates and enriches the List Entry. This includes photographs (new or old), facts, historical events, social history, experiences and memories, information about the architecture or archaeology, and book references or links to useful online resources.

How do I get started?

1. Register on the Historic England website: https://account.historicengland.org.uk/register/. 

Fill in your name, email address and choose a password. You will be sent an activation email – follow the link to finish setting up your account.  

2. Find your church on the NHLE at https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/.  

Search using keywords, postcodes or the map. If you enter a postcode, you will be shown a map with all the local listings marked by triangles. Click on the triangle above your church to bring up its List Entry. 

3. Make your contribution! 

Once you are in the List Entry, scroll down to the listing details and the ‘Your Contributions’ section. Enter your comment in the box and attach any images using the camera button. Historic England will review your contribution and then it will be displayed under your church’s listing. 

Remember that comments can be up to 1,000 characters and that you can add up to four images per post. We recommend trying to stay concise, relevant, and friendly as much as possible. 

4. Let us know you've taken part here.

Now is a great time to 'Enrich the List', because we are here to support you! Let us know how you found the experience, or what help you need, by answering our short questionnaire - which takes approximately five minutes to complete. 

Read our full guide on how to get started here, or watch our video below:

You can find out more about ‘Enrich the List’, including all the terms and conditions, on Historic England’s website. 

Not sure whether your contribution will be relevant? Having trouble finding your church on the List? If you need any help or advice, then just drop Katie W an email at listedbuildings@baptist.org.uk or give her a call on 01235 611444.