Apart from agreeing that the project should take place in the first place, the practical involvement of the Wayland community has been nothing short of astonishing. Working in teams, they have learned research and writing skills, then used those skills to research everything there is to know about their churches and the community, then to write up the information for use in the guide.

In the six months leading up to March 31st the volunteers recorded 1059 hours of research and writing time. The total recorded time given since the launch in 2002 is close on 3000 hours and we know that much more time has been given that the volunteers have not recorded. The project has been the catalyst for the setting up of a range of heritage projects in the villages. Four heritage groups have been set up and two ‘Comma’ groups working on parish archiving. In other villages groups which already existed have been given new inspiration.

All of this new or re-discovered enthusiasm has led to requests for funding and two communities have already made bids to Awards for All. However the Partnership is about to submit a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for funding to meet the heritage needs of all the individual parishes, the market town and Wayland wide needs with funding for a heritage officer to help villages to research and record their heritage assets and to create Wayland Treasures in the form of books, videos, websites and exhibitions for future generations. If this can be achieved the benefit to the local communities will be enormous – but it will also make a significant contribution to the economic well-being of the Wayland area through its contribution to local tourism.