Mission, Vision and Values

Future for Religious Heritage (FRH) was founded in 2011 as an organisation dedicated to the safeguarding of Europe’s diverse and unique religious heritage. It is the only independent, non-faith, and non-profit network of charities and conservation departments of governmental, religious and university institutions, and other professionals working to protect religious heritage buildings across Europe, with over 170 members in over 35 countries.

MISSION

FRH works to ensure the promotion and safeguarding of Europe’s religious heritage, by bringing together organisations and individuals in a Europe-wide network and participating in forums and advocacy networks in order to bring the voice of religious heritage to relevant stakeholders and policymakers.

VISION

  • Unite – FRH consists of over 70 organisations and 100 professionals coming from 35 countries, seeking to promote and enhance good practice sharing, project-building and professional collaboration with all those interested in safeguarding Europe’s rich historic places of worship as well as intangible religious heritage.
  • Promote – FRH promotes the value of religious heritage by raising public interest and encouraging community engagement in the conservation and safeguarding of Europe’s religious heritage.
  • Protect – FRH works closely with EU policymakers and relevant cultural heritage stakeholder forums, sharing relevant information and recommendations regarding the implementation of legislation that promotes community engagement, sustainability, cultural preservation, and innovation around religious heritage. This includes finding creative ways of preserving historic places of worship including extended use and reuse, to avoid demolition or abandonment.

VALUES 

  • Engagement – reaching out to relevant communities, professionals, policymakers, and the public.
  • Sustainability – working towards the sustainability of religious heritage to ensure it can be passed on to future generations.
  • Protection – safeguarding Europe’s tangible and intangible religious heritage; avoiding the abandonment and destruction of this invaluable European heritage.
  • Innovation – finding new and innovative ways to protect historic places of worship.