Hello all! Who’s ready for the final instalment?! 😅
As part of my column for the county magazine, I began visiting churches. Lots of churches. They were everywhere. Almost all open daily for visitors, mostly ancient, and stuffed with interesting art and architecture.
#thread
As part of my column for the county magazine, I began visiting churches. Lots of churches. They were everywhere. Almost all open daily for visitors, mostly ancient, and stuffed with interesting art and architecture.
#thread
https://twitter.com/WorkInHeritage/status/1364165536108736518
I began to look for church heritage jobs, and applied to be the estate officer, managing maintenance and minor repair for 129 (!!) churches at the Churches Conservation Trust. This was useful as it taught me a lot about working in a big organisation.
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I stayed in the estate officer role for a couple of years - working with tight budgets, learning about proper procurement procedures, how to draft papers for senior management, the Board, etc.
The CCT also ran a members’ magazine, and I wrote for that regularly.
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The CCT also ran a members’ magazine, and I wrote for that regularly.
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I found that writing about churches and conservation was something I really loved.
When an opportunity to within the CCTs Development Team arose, I applied for the job. I must sound very flighty, but I realised there was so much about fundraising, campaigning etc I should know
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When an opportunity to within the CCTs Development Team arose, I applied for the job. I must sound very flighty, but I realised there was so much about fundraising, campaigning etc I should know
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I spent several months working in the Development Team, and it was terrific. It was a small team of exceptional people and we worked so well together.
BUT, when the role of Director of @friendschurches was advertised, I knew it was a once-in-lifetime job, and I had to apply.
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BUT, when the role of Director of @friendschurches was advertised, I knew it was a once-in-lifetime job, and I had to apply.
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Once in a lifetime, because in over 60 years the charity had just two Directors! The founder and his protégé.
Unbelievably, I got the job. And have been there three years now. The job involves rescuing and repairing redundant places of worship -
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Unbelievably, I got the job. And have been there three years now. The job involves rescuing and repairing redundant places of worship -
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... working with volunteers, fundraising, PR, etc. It’s a little bit of everything and that’s why I love it so much.
I said I must seem flighty - before this would have bothered me, but there are so many elements to heritage I’m interested in, want to learn, want to work in.
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I said I must seem flighty - before this would have bothered me, but there are so many elements to heritage I’m interested in, want to learn, want to work in.
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And I think, my overall take from this thread is: life in your 20s is rarely what you expect it to be. It’s ok not to have a plan or for a plan not to work out.
Be flexible, change isn’t a bad thing!, adapt, be open to opportunities. You’ll never know where they’ll lead.
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Be flexible, change isn’t a bad thing!, adapt, be open to opportunities. You’ll never know where they’ll lead.
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