Great Expectations Conference (In-Person)

The UK’s historic churches, chapels and meeting houses are among our most treasured buildings. Within their walls are centuries of faith, art, memory and community life. They are part of our cultural and heritage landscape – but for how much longer? 

Fragile finances, declining congregations, rising repair bills, and ever-expanding expectations of what they can and should provide mean that they face an uncertain future. How do we reconcile great expectations with limited resources? How can these remarkable buildings continue to serve their communities, inspire new generations, and remain part of our shared cultural fabric?

We want to bring you closer to the heart of how these buildings are cared for, so that we can get creative with the solutions needed to save them. Churches are not passive relics of the past; they are active, living places, powered by volunteers and sustained by communities who depend on them. 

Together with partners from across the sector, the V&A and National Churches Trust are enabling a conversation that brings together people who wouldn’t usually find themselves in the same room – heritage experts and planners, parishioners and policymakers, conservationists and creatives. 

We invite all those who care about the future of our churches, chapels and meeting houses to join us either in person or via the free livestream for a day of discovery. 

We cannot close the doors now. The story cannot end here. What if, instead, together we were able to write the next chapter?

A full programme will be updated soon.

Ticket Sales

In-person tickets for this event have sold out. 
Online tickets are still available, please scroll down to see the online event listing.
 
Access

The conference will be starting at 10.30 promptly. There is a lift to the Lecture Theatre (Level 4) near the Café on Level 0. We ask that requests for assistance for step-free access are made at least 24 hours before your visit. If you have any further questions regarding accessibility, please email accessibility@vam.ac.uk.