TASH Tidings: Preserving Our Sacred Heritage - The Revival of Church Recording

Church Recording has been a cornerstone of The Arts Society since its earliest days, born from a collaboration with the V&A Museum. 

Church Recording Explained

Driven by dedicated volunteers, this invaluable practice involves compiling meticulously detailed and technical inventories of the artistic treasures, fixtures, and furnishings housed within local places of worship. From memorials, stonework, and stained-glass windows to metalwork, textiles, and library books, every significant item is carefully identified, researched, photographed, and described. While historically focused on parish churches, this enduring legacy has evolved dynamically over time to include synagogues and mosques where appropriate, ensuring a comprehensive, multi-faith preservation of cultural history.

Church Recording in Henley-on-Thames

Locally, this preservation tradition reached a major milestone slightly under ten years ago. On Sunday, November 16, 2014, during a joyous 9:30 AM Sung Eucharist Service, a beautifully comprehensive Church Record was presented to St. Mary’s Church in Henley (by the bridge). This highly thorough inventory represented the culmination of nearly eight years of hard work executed by dedicated members of what was then known as HEDFAS (Henley Decorative and Fine Arts Society), working in close partnership with Goring NADFAS. Masterminded from start to finish by project leader Geraldine Crippen, the resulting two beautifully bound volumes formed one of the largest church records ever created by a NADFAS society. The landmark occasion concluded with vibrant celebrations as members of the congregation crowded around the volumes to admire the exquisite text and pictures - artifacts that now serve as a vital historical reference for researchers, insurance purposes, and the prevention of heritage crime.

The Revival

Following recent organizational shifts, the national society is now re-energizing this vital volunteering sector. Though temporary national restructurings saw a transition toward the independent Church Recording Society, a formal revival is underway under the banner of the national society. To support this restart, essential training and reference standards are once again being provided directly by the V&A Museum. This ensures that new generations of volunteers can confidently document our shared heritage to a national archive standard.

The Opportunity

For members of The Arts Society Henley (TASH) in 2026 and beyond, this national relaunch offers a wonderful opportunity to look to the future. Energized by the training from the V&A, local volunteers can look forward to embarking on brand-new recording projects, continuing the proud lineage of community stewardship that safeguarded the history of St. Mary's a decade ago.