Friends of Friendless Churches
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Friends of Friendless Churches is a charitable body which was set up in the UK in 1957. It was established by Mr Ivor Bulmer-Thomas, a Welshman, with the sole purpose of saving disused but beautiful old places of worship. The charity is selective in deciding which churches to adopt and save from demolition, decay and unsympathetic conversion. To qualify they must be of architectural and historic interest.
The Friends of Friendless Churches has already helped to save over a hundred historic churches and chapels, and it has accepted direct responsibility for another thirty four. Half of all the churches rescued are in Wales.
The charity aims to conserve the churches in its care, undertaking repair where necessary, helping to save important historic buildings that would otherwise be destroyed, or left to ruin.
A substantial ecclesiatical/architectural library largely donated by the Friends of Friendless Churches can be found in the gallery of St Andrew by the Wardrobe, City of London.