Welcome to the January newsletter!
New year, new goals. We are excited to start 2024 with the kick-off of MIRETAGE, a project to foster inclusive education and heritage. The start of 2024 has also been marked by the first meeting of the newly formed Young Professionals and Researchers Working Group and our latest face-to-face meeting.
Many initiatives are also underway among our members, including the six-point plan to save the UK's churches launched by the National Churches Trust, the 2024 edition of Open Churches Day by the Open Churches Network, and the launch of two books, the "Bloomsbury Handbook of Religion and Heritage in Contemporary Europe" and "The First Church of Valletta – Our Lady of Victory".
Our first feature article of the year deals with the timely and not always-easy topic of interfaith heritage and its relationship with different religious communities.
The European news section reviews the proposed installation of new stained glass windows to replace those destroyed in the fire at Notre Dame de Paris, the shortlisted sites for the 7 Most Endangered Programme 2024, the three European Capitals of Culture for 2024 and the new call for nominations of the World Monuments Fund.
We remind you that our survey on heritage craft skills (in collaboration with Mad'in Europe) is still open, so please do not hesitate to answer or share it before 10 February.
To conclude, we invite you to discover 4 churches that were once famous mosques in our Religiana section. Did you know them all?
See you next month!
Jordi Mallarach
FRH Executive Officer
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RELIGIOUS HERITAGE: WHOSE HERITAGE? FOR WHOM?, BY LIEKE WIJNIA & TODD H. WEIR
In a society that is becoming increasingly diverse in terms of faith, interreligious dialogue becomes crucial for guaranteeing social cohesion. Cultural heritage plays a significant role in meaning-making and contributes to the sense of belonging. In this context, negotiating the representation of all faiths in the national heritage is crucial to building a more inclusive society. This present article is an excerpt from the Bloomsbury Handbook of Religion and Heritage in Contemporary Europe, which delves into this subject through a series of contributions from scholars and practitioners with in-depth analysis and illustrative case studies. READ MORE >>
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FRH MEMBERS MET IN MALTA ON 25-26 JANUARY 2024
The beginning of 2024 was marked by a face-to-face meeting in Malta, organised by FRH in collaboration with Din l-Art Ħelwa (National Trust of Malta). This two-day trip took our members on a tour of the most representative religious heritage sites in Valletta, Mdina and Rabat, and provided them with a deeper insight into the ongoing work of Din l-Art Ħelwa through a series of presentations by some of its board members and volunteers. Here is a recap of everything that happened! READ MORE>>
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FIRST MEETING OF THE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AND RESEARCHERS WORKING GROUP
After months of planning, the FRH Young Professionals and Researchers Working Group held a kick-off meeting on Monday 22 January. During the meeting, led by Samidha Pusalkar (chair of the working group), its 10 members, all of them enthusiastic young people aged 18-35, were introduced to the work plan that will promote, support and encourage the participation of young people in the network's activities. READ MORE >>
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FRH CONFERENCE 2024 (22-24 SEPTEMBER IN KRAKOW, POLAND) MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
We are slowly unveiling details of our next conference, which will take place from 22-24 September in Krakow, Poland. While we wait to confirm our speakers, here are the key themes that will be addressed at the conference. READ MORE>>
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REGISTER YOUR EVENT FOR THE OPEN CHURCHES DAY 2024 (DEADLINE: 29 FEBRUARY)
Have you already heard about the Open Churches Days? This yearly initiative is organised by the Open Churches Network present in Belgium, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands to celebrate the wealth of religious heritage by offering free visits and cultural events during a festive weekend. The 17th edition will take place on 1-2 June 2024 under the theme "A wink to the impossible". All places of worship, of all denominations, and their partners (associations, cultural centres, groups, local authorities, etc.) are invited to register their events. Hurry up and send your proposal before 29 February! READ MORE >>
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NEW BOOK ABOUT OUR LADY OF VICTORY CHURCH IN VALLETTA, MALTA
"The First Church of Valletta – Our Lady of Victory" is a book recently published by our member Din l-Art Ħelwa, the National Trust of Malta, offering an in-depth look at the history, architecture, art, artefacts, and religious and cultural significance of Malta's oldest church. This is a recommended reading which vividly describes this stunning place that some of our members visited in person on 25 January. READ MORE >>
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KICK-OFF MEETING OF THE "MIRETAGE" PROJECT IN GRONINGEN
FRH is thrilled to be part of a new EU-funded project, MIRETAGE (European Pathways to Minority Religious Heritage), which aims to promote inclusive education through the collaborative creation of heritage trails that will connect the memories, places and histories of minority communities. As part of this co-creation process, the partners of the project will develop guidelines for the cultural and educational sectors on how to design and use heritage trails for inclusion in adult education. READ MORE >>
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NATIONAL CHURCHES TRUST LAUNCHES A SIX POINT PLAN TO SAVE UK'S CHURCH BUILDINGS
The UK has some of the most historic and beautiful churches, chapels and meeting houses to be found anywhere in the world. But many are at risk of closing for good if urgent action is not taken. The six point plan launched by the National Churches Trust is a blueprint for how the UK Government, heritage organisations and Christian denominations can work together to tackle the UK’s single biggest heritage challenge. READ MORE >>
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NEW DIRECTOR AND CHAIRMAN OF THE ALDE FRYSKE TSJERKEN FOUNDATION
The Alde Fryske Tsjerken Foundation has just welcomed Gerben Hoogterp, the new chairman who takes over from Hendrik ten Hoeve. Mr Hoogtep has a background in church, education, healthcare and welfare work. He was a member of the Leeuwarden municipal council for many years and is currently a general board member of Wetterskip Fryslân. The foundation has also welcomed Atze Jan de Vries as the new director. Mr. de Vries has done journalistic work for a long time, mainly in and for Fryslân at the Leeuwarder Courant and currently works for the province of Fryslân as an advisor to the Provincial Council. READ MORE >>
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THIS SECTION IS FOR MEMBERS ONLY. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MEMBER, MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE. READ MORE >>
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FRH EVENTS
>7-8 March 2024 - The Churches and the City. More information >>
>22-24 September 2024 - FRH Conference in Krakow, Poland. More information >>
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT UPCOMING EVENTS?
MORE EVENTS>>
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THE ARCHBISHOP OF PARIS PROPOSES INSTALLING MODERN STAINED GLASS WINDOWS IN NOTRE DAME TO REMIND SOCIETY OF THE 2018 FIRE
As Notre Dame enters the final year before its reopening, set by President Emmanuel Macron for 8 December 2024, questions about its restoration are still being debated. The last one has to do with the historic stained-glass windows of the worldwide famous cathedral. Archbishop of Paris, Msgr. Laurent Ulrich has expressed his desire to install new contemporary stained-glass windows, arguing that this would leave a visible trace that reminds us of the infamous fire that destroyed the iconic wooden spire. However, the proposal has raised conflicting opinions between those who want to keep the cathedral as it is and those who are open to new interventions. Are there similar debates concerning other religious heritage sites in your country? What is your opinion on this matter? READ MORE >>
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ANNOUNCED THE 11 SHORTLISTED HERITAGE SITES FOR THE 7 MOST ENDANGERED PROGRAMME 2024
The monuments and heritage sites shortlisted for the 7 Most Endangered Programme 2024 were announced on 30 January by Europa Nostra and the European Investment Bank (EIB) Institute. Among them are the Church of San Pietro in Gessate (Milan, Italy), the Synagogue of Siena (Italy) and the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Georgios (Altınözü, Turkey) READ MORE >>
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MEET THE THREE EUROPEAN CAPITALS OF CULTURE 2024
Bad Ischl (Austria), Bodø (Norway) and Tartu (Estonia) are the European Capitals of Culture this year. The three cities are already looking forward to a full schedule of concerts, theatre, performances, cultural visits, and other activities that can be consulted on the official websites. READ MORE >>
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WORLD MONUMENTS FUND: CALL FOR NOMINATIONS 2025
Nominations are now open for the 2025 World Monuments Watch, a program to raise global awareness and action concerning cultural heritage sites in danger. Every two years, the watch publishes a list of endangered sites to amplify preservation efforts through advocacy, capacity building, and close collaboration with WMF’s experts around the world. Nominations can be submitted until 15 March 2024. READ MORE >>
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As a signatory of the European Skills Pact, FRH presents a new section in collaboration with Mad'in Europe, in which we will discuss the importance of maintaining heritage craftsmanship and ensuring crafts do not become extinct through a series of interviews with professional craftspeople.
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DEADLINE EXTENDED: HELP US UNDERSTAND EUROPE'S HERITAGE CRAFTS SCENE BY ANSWERING OR SHARING OUR SURVEY UNTIL 10 FEBRUARY
In the European Year of Skills, Future for Religious Heritage (FRH) and Mad’in Europe have joined forces and expertise to devise a survey to better understand the heritage crafts scene in Europe in terms of practice and knowledge. The safeguarding of heritage craft skills is an important part of the European sustainability agenda, enabling historic buildings and artefacts to be preserved for the future. The results of this survey will serve as a basis for future policy recommendations and to further advocate for the valorisation and protection of traditional heritage crafts. READ MORE >>
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4 Churches that were once famous mosques
History is full of examples of temples converted to serve another religion. Here are 4 Christian places of worship that were important mosques in the past. Did you know them all?
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FRH is an independent, non-faith, not-for-profit organisation working to promote religious heritage buildings and their contents across Europe. It currently has more than 80 full members and 120 associate members from over 35 countries.
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