He played a pivotal role in the growth of the Norfolk Churches Trust and later, Norwich Historic Churches Trust. He also headed a national church conservation charity. Mr Barnes became the first salaried secretary to the Norfolk Churches Trust in October 1992. Over the following years, he continued to advise the Norfolk Churches Trust until 2019. The Norfolk Churches Trust, which had been established in 1975 under Lady Billa Harrod OBE, had expanded membership rapidly and had taken on responsibility for more than a dozen ‘leased’ churches.
