Contested Heritage Audit

Have you ever wondered about the stories your church holds? Stories that reveal not just where we’ve been, but where we’re going as a church community?

In Spring 2023, the Diocese of Bristol partnered with the University of Bristol and PhD researcher Dr Alice Kinghorn to embark on an exciting pilot study exploring contested heritage within a handful of our churches. This research uncovered important connections to transatlantic chattel slavery through physical markers like memorials, monuments, and statues.

The churches who participated helped us create a rich dataset of photographs and insights that have deepened our collective understanding of the Church’s historical involvement in transatlantic chattel slavery.

Now, two years later, we are excited to expand this project to include all churches in the Diocese that wish to participate. Let me be clear: the aim of the Contested Heritage Monument Audit is not to rewrite history, erase or physically remove monuments, or assign blame for the actions of those long gone. This project seeks to:

Honour the truth of our shared history.
Deepen our understanding of how the past shapes the present.
Explore ways to build a future rooted in justice, reconciliation, and hope.

Participating in the audit is simple. It is voluntary, requires no financial commitment from your church, and only involves granting permission for our team to assess your building.

About the audit

Audit Visits

Dr Alice Kinghorn

Dr. Alice Kinghorn will conduct in-person Contested Heritage Monument Audits starting in early March 2025.

Dr Alice Kinghorn is a historian of religion and empire. Her PhD examined the Church of England's involvement in transatlantic slavery through the work of Anglican missionary societies. She has written on the individual lives of Anglican missionaries, as well as the experiences of enslaved people. In 2023, Alice undertook a pilot project in the Diocese of Bristol to research memorials and other physical legacies of enslavement in Bristol's churches. Since then, Alice has worked with the Cathedral and Church Buildings Department on contested heritage around England, and has lectured at the University of Gloucestershire and the University of Bristol.

Sign-Up Process

To participate, complete this sign-up form by Friday, 14 March 2025. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email with more information regarding approximate dates for Dr Kinghorn’s visit to your church.

Visit Dates

Church visits are scheduled to begin Spring 2025.

Church Access

A designated point of contact, listed on your sign-up form, may attend the visit but is not required to be present. However, we ask that gates and doors be unlocked and accessible for Dr. Kinghorn on the day of the visit.

Duration of Visit

Each visit is expected to take approximately 1 hour.

After the audit

Audit Report

After completing audits across all participating churches, Dr Kinghorn will prepare a confidential report for the Bishop and the Diocese Racial Justice Team.

Individual Church Reports

Each participating church will receive an individual report detailing findings specific to their building.

Future Use of Data

While the full report will remain confidential, the Diocese will organise a brainstorming session with churches to explore ways the data can be used for educational purposes, with consent from each church.

Information sessions on Ms Teams

We invite you to attend an online informational session to learn more about the audit process, ask questions, and clarify any concerns. Sessions are available on the following dates and times:

Click on the corresponding date and time above to join the session on MS Teams.

You do NOT need to attend an informational session in order to sign up to participate in the audit. If you’re ready to take part, you can sign up by filling out the sign-up form at the button below.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the Diocese of Bristol’s Racial Justice Team at racialjustice@bristoldiocese.org