The Bishop’s Committee for Books and Documents

The Committee exists to support the preservation of and access to parochial and diocesan books and documents in the Diocese of Norwich.

Terms of Reference

The Committee exists to support the preservation of and access to parochial and diocesan books and documents in the Diocese of Norwich.  Preservation work may include repair work, cleaning, storage, packaging and other protective measures.  Access work includes digitization, cataloguing, survey work and interpretative work.

It aims to maximise the benefits of its limited resources by prioritizing work and projects which, in the Committee’s opinion

Meet professional standards

  • Significantly improve preservation and/or access
  • Focus on books and documents which are of historical significance

 

It achieves this by

  • Providing advice on the significance of books and documents
  • Giving small grants to projects which meet both its overall aims and strategic objectives.
  • Supporting the implementation of the Parochial Register and Records Measure, 1978
  • Working in partnership with other organisations

Strategy Priorities

Over recent years, several matters have been raised by Committee members; these are listed below for discussion by Committee.  It is suggested that this list be reviewed annually.

  1. Photographs in churches
  2. Items at risk
  3. Storage, cleaning and packaging of Cathedral Library collections
  4. Consistory court records – conservation, cataloguing and engagement
  5. Parish magazines
  6. Digital records – raising awareness of preservation issues
  7. Recruiting new members to the committee
 

Membership

The current membership of the Committee is:

  • Mr Charles Farrow, Chairman (Independent Researcher)
  • Dr John Alban, Vice Chairman (Honorary Senior Lecturer, UEA and former County Archivist)
  • Mr Gary Tuson, Treasurer and Secretary for Documents (County Archivist)
  • Dr Gudrun Warren, Secretary to the Committee and Secretary for Books (Librarian and Curator, Norwich Cathedral)
  • Revd Canon Peter Doll (Vice Dean and Canon Librarian, Norwich Cathedral)
  • Revd Nick Garrard (Incumbent)
  • Dr Clare Haynes (former Senior Research Associate, UEA)
  • Revd Margaret McPhee (Incumbent)
  • Dr Victor Morgan (Honorary Senior Fellow, UEA)
  • Revd Charles Read (Deputy Warden of Readers, Diocese of Norwich and ERMC)
 

Minutes of Meetings