Research and Conservation of St. Bartholomew Old Anglican Church Building, Wusasa, Zaria, Nigeria

The Conservation of the Church, facilitated by ICOMOS Nigeria, was graciously sponsored by Gerda Henkel Stiftung, Germany.

The implementation of the project was executed by international experts from Mali, England, Canada and National experts. National institutions such as the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) was actively engaged in the project while Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria was also involved in the dissemination of the project.

The project which started in July, 2022 was completed in April, 2023. The activities included documentation of the old church building and its ensembles, capacity building programme, rehabilitation of the building and dissemination of the project outcomes.

First Mission: The work involved the preliminary condition survey of the old church building of the St Bartholomew Church and the inventory of buildings of similar architectural character in Wusasa.

Second Mission: work comprises of capacity building (training), condition survey of the old church building, inventory of buildings of similar character in Wusasa and research.

Third Mission: This took place between October 2022 and January 2023 and focused on the rehabilitation of the old church, earthen architecture conservation and hands-on capacity building in earth construction.

Fourth Mission: The work, which was the last, involved exhibition of the conservation work carried out and handing over of the project to the owners and custodians. It also involved dissemination of the outcomes through courtesy visit and exhibitions to a wider community which include traditional institution, academic institution and selected national government institutions, diplomatic corps and the general public.