Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem

• Degradation of the architectural complex of the Church of the Nativity;
• Development pressure;
• Tourism pressure.

• Degradation of the architectural complex of the Church of the Nativity;
• Development pressure;
• Tourism pressure.

Not yet identified

Total amount granted: USD 723,000 from Italy (Emergency Action Plan 1997-1998; Conservation and Management Plan  2006-2010).

On 7 February 2014, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1433/documents. Progress in a number of conservation issues addressed by the Committee at its previous sessions is presented in the report as follows:

• A summary of detailed investigations of the Church of the Nativity carried out by a Consortium led by CFR (Administrative project managing - Ferrara – Italy) which included a Laser scanning survey, and detailed analysis of historical and archaeological aspects, masonry structures, roof structures, structural aspects, decorated surfaces, mosaics and paintings. According to the report, these analyses have led to the development of relevant guidelines which can be considered as the overarching conservation strategy to guide future restoration work.
• Restoration of the roof and windows, for which tender procedure had been started at the time of the previous Committee session, the State Party has provided a detailed account of the progress made with illustrations. Accordingly, the work by the contractor has commenced in September 2013 and is scheduled to be completed by September 2014.  On 29 August 2013, the State Party had submitted to the World Heritage Centre the tender documents, scope of work (SoW) and the contractor’s technical proposal for the restoration of the wooden roof of the Church of the Nativity. ICOMOS provided their comments on 18 October 2013 recalling the Committee Decision, 37 COM 7A.27 which recalled “the need for an overarching conservation strategy for the Church of the Nativity to be developed as early as possible to guide the restoration project”; such a strategy would be based on an analysis of the church fabric and particularly its historic interest. So far such a document has not been provided.
• Other activities:

- Several rehabilitation activities related to the Pilgrimage Route,

- Bylaws for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage in Bethlehem: Bethlehem Historic Centre and Individual Traditional Buildings throughout the Town. These were reported to have been gazetted in February 2014,

- Manual for the Rehabilitation of the Historic Centre of Bethlehem.

• Preparation of the conservation and management plan for the property by the stakeholders is underway and the intention is to complete this by March 2014, although few details are available.

The Church of the Nativity:

Progress has been made towards the restoration of the roof of the Church of the Nativity and the detailed investigations carried out on the overall conditions of the Church.  Although considerable survey and research into the Church of the Nativity has been undertaken, this has not been used as a basis for a Conservation strategy, as requested. Such a strategy needs to set out the historic evidence and significance of the overall building and its component parts, as a guide to how conservation interventions are identified and addressed. However, details of the strategy have not been provided in the report.

Currently there is no way of telling whether the proposed structural timber repairs are taking full account of the undoubted historic character of the roof, which may possibly contain elements surviving from Justinian’s construction period.  Given the rarity and consequent importance of such a structure, there should be clarity about the way in which its historic character is taken into account by the repair programme. In addition, there is no reference to any research into the historical character and significance of the leadwork with which the roof is covered, or analysis of its condition and it seems that timber repairs are being carried out to the roof trusses without any reference to the condition of the roof coverings.

There is a need for a clear understanding of the way in which all the component aspects of the fabric of the building, which appear to have been investigated in detail on an individual basis by the various members of the Consortium, are understood in a holistic way.  The absence of such an overall assessment makes it difficult to comment on the scope of the work presently being carried out, and its appropriateness within the framework proposed for the overall project.

The contractors who were appointed on 25 July 2013 to carry out Phase I (Roof and Windows restoration) are already half way through their programme. Details were provided for the roof project in terms of the specific techniques and areas of investigative study carried out by the various research units within the Consortium.  However, the report sets out no clear conclusions drawn from the findings of these separate investigative units and no clear set of recommendations for the resultant coordinated action to be taken. 

It is therefore recommended that the World Heritage Committee reiterate its request to the State Party to develop a conservation plan which draws together the conclusions of the detailed investigative reports into a comprehensive conservation strategy for the whole property and reinforces its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV).

Conservation and management plan of the property:

Noting the reference made to the development of the property’s conservation and management plan, it is recommended that the World Heritage Committee urge the State Party to expedite its completion together with the overarching conservation strategy, and submit them for review by the Advisory Bodies prior to their adoption.

The State Party has not yet identified the corrective measures and Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger that would serve as a basis for planning of all future action at the property. The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies are ready to assist in this regard. The World Heritage Committee may want to request the State Party to attend to this.