Nigel Walter

Practice and theory in dialogue

Nigel Walter, founding director of Archangel, is a Specialist Conservation Architect active in both architectural practice and research. The core of his research is the development of a narrative- and tradition-based approach to conservation that does justice to living buildings, addressed in his recent book, Narrative Theory in Conservation (Routledge 2020). This research informs and enriches Archangel’s approach to design, particularly with existing buildings.

Research

Nigel’s doctoral research (2017, University of York) explored how the conservation process is experienced by those communities that animate and sustain living historic buildings, particularly medieval parish churches. He is a Research Associate in the Centre for the Study of Christianity and Culture at the University of York.

Charitable

Nigel is a trustee of three charities, including the National Churches Trust, where he chairs the grants committee. He serves as a member of the Church of England’s Church Buildings Council, and the Baptist Union’s Listed Building Advisory Committee.

Other activities

Nigel is as comfortable writing and speaking in a range of non-academic settings as in academia. He is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, and a Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts. He is actively involved in international conservation, and is a Board member of the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee for Theory and Philosophy of Conservation and Restoration (TheoPhilos), and a member of the ISC on Places of Religion and Ritual (PRERICO).

The following offers an overview of publications across academic and non-academic settings. Copies of most of the academic papers can be downloaded from here: https://york.academia.edu/NigelWalter.

Academic

Walter, Nigel. 2026. ‘ICOMOS at 60: Surveying Our Philosophical Foundations, and How We Might Fix Them’. Protection of Cultural Heritage, no. 25: 49–65. https://doi.org/10.35784/odk.9465.

Walter, Nigel. (2025c) ‘Renegotiating the Role of the Expert: The Faro Convention, Historic Churches and the Role of Communities in Conservation’. Protection of Cultural Heritage, no. 24 (December): 69–83. https://doi.org/10.35784/odk.7731.

Walter, Nigel. (2025b) ‘The Development of Conservation in England, 1945-2025’. In Theory and History of Conservation Part II, edited by Calogero Bellanca. Sapienza University of Rome. https://www.editricesapienza.it/book/10946.

Walter, Nigel. (2025a) ‘Alternative Views of Authenticity: The Case of Park Hill, Sheffield’. Protection of Cultural Heritage 23, pp. 1–19. https://doi.org/10.35784/odk.7052.

Walter, N. (2024b) ‘Venice at 60: Article 5 and the Acceptable Limits of Use’. Protection of Cultural Heritage, 20, pp. 1–19.

Walter, N. (2024a) Narrative and the legitimacy of change to historic buildings. In: Somhegyi, Z. and Giombini, L. eds. The Routledge Companion to the Philosophy of Architectural Reconstruction. London, Routledge, pp. 107–122.

Walter, N. (2023c) Lost in Translation: Tangible and Non-Tangible in Conservation. Architecture, 3 (3), pp. 578–592.

Walter, N. (2023b) Figure and Ground: An English view of the Conservation of Historic Public Spaces. Protection of Cultural Heritage, 16, pp. 45–58.

Walter, N. (2023a) English Parish Churches and Sustainability. In: McDermott, D., Mathisen, B., Levent, Y.S., Wallace, P. and Truscott, M. eds. Living Heritage & Climate Change: ICOMOS Scientific Symposium 2021, 9-10 November 2021. Paris, ICOMOS, pp. 91–97.

Walter, N. (2022) Improving Access to Historic Buildings: Some English Experience. Protection of Cultural Heritage, no. 14: 7–22. https://doi.org/10.35784/odk.2925. Paper given to ICOMOS TheoPhilos conference, Florence, April 2022.

Walter, N. (2021) Conservation Practice and the Future of Doctrinal Texts. Protection of Cultural Heritage, no. 12 (December): 97–112. https://doi.org/10.35784/odk.2792. Paper given to ICOMOS TheoPhilos conference, Florence, September 2021.

Walter, Nigel. (2020b) The Narrative Approach to Living Heritage. Protection of Cultural Heritage 10: 126–138 https://doi.org/10.35784/odk.2443.

Walter, N. (2020a) Narrative Theory in Conservation: Change and Living Buildings. Abingdon and New York: Routledge.

Walter, N. & Lamarque, P. (2020) Narrative and Conservation: A Response. Estetika: the European Journal of Aesthetics, LVII/XIII (1): 104–115. https://doi.org/10.33134/eeja.32.

Lamarque, P. & Walter, N. (2019) The Application of Narrative to the Conservation of Historic Buildings. Estetika: the Central European Journal of Aesthetics, LVI/XII (1): 5–27.

Walter, N. (2017b) Everyone loves a good story : narrative, tradition and public participation in conservation. In G. Chitty (ed.) Heritage, Conservation and Community : Engagement, Participation and Capacity Building. Abingdon: Routledge, pp. 50–64.

Walter, N. (2017a) The ‘Second Battle of Britain’: Lessons in post-war reconstruction. In: P. Schneider (ed.) Catastrophe and Challenge: Cultural Heritage in Post-Conflict Recovery. Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Heritage Conservation and Site Management. December 5–7, 2016, BTU Cottbus. Cottbus: Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg IKMZ-Universitätsbibliothek, pp. 55–72.

Walter, N. (2014a) From values to narrative: a new foundation for the conservation of historic buildings. International Journal of Heritage Studies 20 (6): 634–50. https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2013.828649.

Professional & General

Walter, N. (2024c) Making Your Church Sustainable: A Practical Guide to Getting to Net Zero. Norwich: Canterbury Press.

Walter, N. (2023d) The Ecclesiastical Exemption in Practice. Historic Churches: The Conservation and Repair of Ecclesiastical Buildings, 30, pp. 17–20.

Walter, N. (2020c) ‘Reimagining Church Buildings: The Incarnation, Embodiment and Material Culture’. Cambridge Papers 29 (2). A biblical argument for the relevance of place and church buildings.

Walter, N. and S. Pugh-Jones (2020) ‘Responding to the Climate Emergency’ in EASA Journal, Spring 2020: 26–27.

Walter, N. (2019) ‘Editorial: Cambridge Mosque’ in Cambridge Architecture (78).

Radice, J. and N. Walter. (2018b) ‘A Consistory Court in Bassingbourn: The Judgement’ in EASA Journal, Winter 2018: 20–22.

Radice, J. and N. Walter. (2018a) ‘A Consistory Court at Bassingbourn’ in EASA Journal, Summer 2018: 16–19.

Walter, N. (2017c) SCARAB Manifesto. The Society for the Continuity and Renewal of Ancient Buildings. http://www.scarabsoc.org.uk.

Walter, N. (2016) ‘Conservation as action and reaction’ in Context (146): 36–37. Paper given to the Institute of Historic Building Consultants Summer School, June 2016.

Walter, N. (2015): ‘On Statements of Significance‘ in EASA Transactions, vol. 8, 1–10.

Walter, N. and A. Mottram (2015) Buildings for Mission : a complete guide to the care, conservation and development of churches. Norwich: Canterbury Press. This practical and comprehensive handbook provides non-professionals with a basic grounding for all who cared for and maintain buildings. It argues that these buildings are an asset as much for mission as for heritage.

Walter, N. (2014b) Church Buildings for People – reimagining church buildings as nourishing places. Cambridge: Grove Books.

Walter, N. (2011) The Gate of Heaven – how church buildings speak of God. Cambridge: Grove Books.

Current Research

Nigel’s current research focus concerns sustainability and heritage. The professional/practical aspect is currently focused on his role as chair of a joint working group developing sustainability guidance for church architects and surveyors with representatives of the Church Buildings Council and the Ecclesiastical Architects and Surveyors Association. This guidance is due to be published in the first half of 2021. The academic aspect is expressed in the development of a second book project.

Selected Publications

Conservation

Exploring Authenticity: Lessons from Thessaloniki’s Heritage Integration

How can modern infrastructure coexist with over two millennia of history? This question was at the heart of the ICOMOS TheoPhilos conference, recently attended by

December 5, 2024

Conservation

Lecturing in Rome

Nigel has been in Rome to deliver a lecture at the historic La Sapienza University. The lecture, on Building Conservation in England, was delivered to

November 26, 2024

Nigel elected Secretary General

We are pleased to share that Nigel has been elected Secretary General of the International Committee on Theory and Philosophy of Conservation and Restoration (TheoPhilos)!

March 25, 2024

Upcoming Events

There are no upcoming public events currently arranged; the current pandemic makes any new public appearances impossible.

Previous Events

Reimagining Church Buildings – online event and panel discussion following publication of Cambridge Paper (Sept 2020)

Conservation of Living Heritage: Lessons from the English Parish Church – online doctoral seminar, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy (June 2020)

A Practical Theology of Buildings: why (historic) buildings matter to ministry – Eastern Region Ministry Course (January 2020)

Working with Church Buildings: from problem to opportunity – Diocese of Norwich training workshop, Norwich (September 2019)

Transforming your Church Building for Mission: Creatively working with historic buildings – Diocese of Norwich training workshop, Watton (May 2019)

Planning and Running a Building Project – Diocese of Chelmsford Rural Church Buildings Conference (May 2019)

The Narrative Approach to Religious Sites as Living Heritage – ICOMOS Conference, Florence, Italy (February 2019)

What Do Architects Want from Conservators? Institute of Conservation ACR Conference, Institute of Historical Research, London (December 2018)

The Ecclesiastical Exemption: Statutory Protection for Christian Religious Heritage in the UK – ICOMOS Conference, Jeju, South Korea (October 2018)

Equipping Churches for Mission: buildings, people and the conservation landscape – Ecclesiastical Judges Association Conference, St Stephen’s House, Oxford (September 2018)

Conservation: The Management of Change – Buildings for Mission Conference, Worcester (June 2018)

Transforming your Church Building for Mission: Creatively working with historic buildings – Diocese of Norwich training workshop, Blakeney (May 2018)

Transforming your Church Building for Mission: Creatively working with historic buildings – Diocese of Norwich training workshop, Hethersett (November 2017)

Engaging Conservation and Communities – University of York (October 2017)

Re-orientation: conservation and community – Coventry and Leicester DACs Seminar (October 2017)

Transforming your Church Building for Mission: Creatively working with historic buildings – Diocese of Norwich training workshops, Old Hunstanton and Filby (September 2017)

But Where Are The People?: Conservation and Christian Community – Training Day, Norwich Cathedral Library (March 2017)

The English Parish Church: conservation, community, cultural threshold – Cambridge Heritage Research Group (February 2017)

Community engagement: heritage, planning & conservation – University of York (February 2017)

Continuity and the British Experience of Reconstruction after World War Two – keynote, Catastrophe and Challenge Conference, Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg, Germany (December 2016)

Values and its Malcontents: conservation as if people mattered – University of York (October 2016)

Re-orientation: conservation and community – Diocesan Advisory Committee Conference, Leicester (September 2016)

Buildings for Mission millstones and springboards – Creative Mission Forum, Whitstable, Kent (September 2016)

Conservation as Action and Reaction – Institute of Historic Building Consultants Summer School, Worcester (June 2016)

The English Parish Church: conservation, community, cultural threshold – Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg, Germany (June 2016)

What did the Victorians ever do for us?: narrative and community in historic churches – Methodist Heritage Conference, Cliff College, Derbyshire (July 2015)

Whose Meaning?: significance and public participation in conservation – Architectural Association (May 2014, May 2015)

Seeing your church building’s potential: care, creative use and narrative play – Ripon College Cuddesdon (May 2015)

Change: your mission, your buildings – Rural Ministries Conference, Northampton (October 2014)

The Role of the Conservation Architect – University of Cambridge Department of Architecture, MSt in Building History (October 2014)

Everyone Loves A Good Story: narrative and public participation in conservation – York Conservation Alumni Association (July 2014)

Building the Church: embarrassing bodies and narrative play – Ridley Hall, Cambridge (March 2014, May 2015)

Statements of Significance and Needs: Blessings or Burdens – Diocese of Ely Churchwardens’ Days (June 2013, May 2014)

Walking Tour of Cambridge Churches for students of the Royal Institute of Art (RIA), Stockholm (April 2014)

From Values to Narrative: a new foundation for the conservation of historic buildings – University Campus Suffolk (February 2014)

From Values to Narrative: a new foundation for the conservation of historic buildings – York Heritage Research Seminar (November 2013)

Church Buildings: Play Time! – Bromley and Bexley Clergy Residential (July 2013)

Sacraments in Stone – Diocese of Ely Clergy Study Day (June 2013)

History: Constraint, or Mission Opportunity – Buildings for Mission North East regional conference, Houghton-le-Spring (March 2013)

The Point of Engagement: Buildings, Mission, Community – National Archdeacons’ Conference, Swanwick (January 2013)

The Uses and Abuses of Augmented Reality – Churches Tourism Association, Swanwick (November 2012)

Ecclesiological Society tour of Victorian Cambridge churches and chapels (September 2012)

Church Buildings: the Piont of Engagement – St John’s College, Nottingham (March 2012)

Millstone or Springboard, Scargill House (February 2012)

The Point of Engagement: Liturgy and/or Community – Churches and Cathedrals Division seminar (December 2011)

The SCARAB Manifesto was written in 2016 and extends the narrative approach for which I argue into polemical form. It explicitly complements William Morris’s Manifesto for the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), adopting a comparable approach; homage is paid to Morris, and the connection between the two underlined, in the adaptation of Morris’s prefatory wording. This new manifesto is a thought experiment exploring the implications of putting ‘Continuity and Renewal’ in place of ‘Preservation’ in conservation discourse: what might a manifesto for The Society for the Continuity and Renewal of Ancient Buildings look like? The text is available on the dedicated SCARAB Soc. website.

For more, see the case study following Chapter 6 in my book Narrative Theory in Conservation (Routledge, 2020).