This article analyses the application of a locally salient model of ‘partnership’ in the preventive conservation of cultural heritage, viewed as an inseparable combination of the tangible and intangible. The paper focuses on the development, implementation and evaluation of community-led measures, which built on local customs and traditions, for the preservation of religious and ceremonial artefacts (notably manuscripts, crosses, and textiles) at the Medhane Alem Church site, in the Ankober region of Ethiopia. The partnership between the local community, heritage professionals and the private sector highlights differences in values and uses of cultural heritage. It fosters the integration of local traditional practices of preservation with preventive conservation practices within a common approach. It is argued that the ‘shared care’ and ‘shared responsibility’ approach offers options for community involvement, where community is placed at the centre of preservation strategies.