Maintenance Checklist for Places of Worship - Using the Checklist - Risk Assessment and Costs

Sep 1, 2026

Upload by Rizky

A maintenance checklist for places of worship focuses on preserving historic buildings through regular monitoring of the fabric and targeted repair planning. It helps site teams organize time, people, and costs, record observations, and update entries over an ongoing cycle. Guidance covers risk assessment for tasks performed alone, practical safety precautions, and the role of professional advisors such as quinquennial inspectors. It also supports budgeting by capturing quote-based costs for timely upkeep.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryForms

FormatDOCX

Pages12

Reading Time4 min

AccessFree to download

Using the Checklist

Risk assessment

Costs

Useful equipment when carrying out maintenance inspections

Links between volunteers, professional contractors and advisors

Maintenance Checklist for Places of Worship Name of place of worship: An Introduction to the Maintenance Checklist Thank you for looking after your historic place of worship. Monitoring the fabric of your building and performing regular maintenance are key to preserving these places for future generations. As the person on site, you are likely to be the first to notice changes that could indicate defects. Working with a professional advisor will allow decisions to be made on if action is needed, and when. This will help tackle defects to prevent further deterioration. Regular checks also monitor how well previous interventions have worked. Using this checklist will help organise the time, people and the costs of maintenance tasks. It will also record observations and work that is carried out. Using the checklist This document provides a checklist to assist maintenance planning for places of worship in England. Please edit this template to suit the needs of your place of worship and to meet the requirements of your insurer. For example, make a note of the months your gutters will need checking after leaf fall, and which year the rainwater goods should be repainted. The checklist is most useful if you update it on a regular basis. Feature it as a regular item on meeting agendas (e.g. PCC, Fabric Committee, Trustees or Elders meetings) to ensure tasks are regularly carried out. Date any entries that you make and when works have been completed. We recommend that you include plans of interior, exterior, grounds and elevations (or photographs) at the end of the document as they can be useful for contractors and volunteers. These can be used to mark areas of concern for monitoring. Risk assessment A risk assessment should be in place for all maintenance tasks, especially if carrying them out alone. We recommend that maintenance is always carried out by two people together where possible. Volunteers should not take any risks that threaten their safety. We recommend that any person working in isolation stays at ground level (unless there is safe access to go higher), has a mobile phone with them and tells someone else about their plans to be at the church and a time for when they plan to be finished. Costs It is important to include the cost of maintenance tasks in the plan so they can be incorporated into the annual budget for your place of worship. It may take time to receive quotes for maintenance. We recommend the checklist is updated with the cost of works as soon as they are received. Useful equipment when carrying out maintenance inspections gloves (disposable and heavy duty) a torch binoculars a mask (for dust or guano when going into enclosed spaces) safety glasses or goggles a first-aid kit a camera (or mobile phone camera) measuring stick and or tape measure clipboard (for recording your observations) A plan or general photograph of the building for highlighting the location of issues or where photographs are taken from. Links between volunteers, professional contractors and advisors Places of worship often have a professional advisor, such as a qualified architect or surveyor, who undertakes a regular building inspection. This is usually done every five years and is known as a quinquennial inspection, or QI. It should be noted that a building inspection report is not a maintenance plan, but it should inform your maintenance routine. Each place of worship is different and will have its own maintenance requirements and arrangements. Many have volunteers who can do most of the regular tasks, depending on the complexity of the building. Others employ a contractor for some or all tasks, such as work requiring access at height. A professional advisor plays an important role and can help with advice on building related issues, including hiring a contractor, or tasks which might need professional guidance. To make best use of this checklist, we recommend that you consult a professional advisor (often your Quinquennial Inspector) on

FAQs

How should the checklist be used over time?

Update the checklist on a regular basis and feature it in recurring meeting agendas. Date entries and record when works have been completed.

What safety guidance is given for maintenance tasks?

A risk assessment should be in place for all maintenance tasks, especially when working alone. Where possible, maintenance should be carried out by two people, and volunteers should avoid risks that threaten safety.

How are maintenance costs handled in the plan?

Include maintenance task costs so they can be incorporated into the annual budget. Update the checklist with costs as soon as quotes are received, since obtaining quotes may take time.

Sep 1, 2026

Upload by Rizky