Church Recorders began in the mid 1970s when it became evident that many of our churches and their contents were in a very poor state of repair. It was decided that it was necessary to begin work in recording in detail every object, stone and window held within every Parish Church in the country. It is the preservation of our artistic heritage that was in danger of being lost. This resulted in the formation of the Church Recorder group within NADFAS supported by the V & A and the Council for the Conservation of Churches.

Church Recording is the compiling of detailed descriptions of everything that can be found within a Church. This includes, amongst other aspects, windows and the fabric of the Church. The compiled work will be another chapter in the modern Domesday Book of British Churches.

The detailed record is in an easily read format and is available for study by researchers as well as by Police in tracing stolen articles. Only facts of which we are completely sure are recorded.

Drawings and photographs enhance the written statements and are useful for identification purposes for restoration and repair. Many Churches lose things through vandalism, theft or arson. We have to record in detail for future generations. We produce these records before ruin, development, desecration and moth take their toll!

The recording of Leatherhead Parish Church was completed in 2006 (see below). Members of the Church Recording Group began work in 2008 on the recording of the Catholic Church of Our Lady and St. Peter, Leatherhead.