Reordering

The Rector and Churchwarden sought a faculty to regularise the installation of four infra-red heaters in the north aisle of the church, the subject of an interim faculty, and also to make permanent some minor reordering carried out under an archdeacon’s licence, namely, the removal of four pews, a pew frontal, and two altar rails from the north chapel and the installation of free-standing shelving and refrigerators as storage for the church’s food bank. The Victorian Society and Historic Buildings and Places objected to the proposals to remove the four pews, pew frontal and the altar rails from the north chapel. The Chancellor granted a faculty, being satisfied that the petitioners had made a clear and convincing justification for the proposals in terms of the resulting community and missional benefits. The faculty was subject to a condition that the four pews, their pew frontal, and the two altar rails should all be retained within the church building or in the adjacent Parish Rooms.

The petitioners wished to remove a stone font introduced in the early part of the 20th century to the Grade II* listed church, which dates from around 1300. The proposal was to replace the stone font with a new font of modern design. The new font was to be moveable, so as to permit the freeing up of space at the west end of the church, when required for activities other than baptism. Despite reservations as to the design, and the fact that the new font had been made and used before the matter got to a hearing, the Chancellor granted the faculty.

The proposals were the replacement of the sandstone paving of the chancel floor with York stone slabs; repairs to the organ; fitting of castors to the organ and relocation to the front of the nave; removal of two pews from the front of the nave; and laying up the Women’s Royal British Legion Flag. Although the proposed use of York stone had been contentious, that was resolved by a revised plan to source stone from a local quarry.  However, the DAC did not support and the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings objected to the complete replacement of the flooring. The Chancellor decided that the existing floor did not need complete replacement and directed that a faculty would be granted for the repair and, where necessary, replacement of damaged slabs with local stone of a similar type to that existing.

The proposals were to extend the church tower to the south, to the depth of the existing exterior buttresses, to allow for the internal fitting of a WC and a tea point. An access for the disabled would also be created. There were eight objectors, none becoming parties opponent. The Chancellor was satisfied that the petitioners had made a good case for the proposals, and he granted a faculty.

The proposed reordering works included the installation of a kitchenette and an accessible WC, with associated water supply and drainage works; installation of a new ceiling; relocation of the existing font to a redundant church in the benefice, from which it originally came, and the introduction of a new moveable font. The Chancellor considered that the proposed copper bowl to be used as a font did not 'fulfil either the letter or the spirit of Canon F1'. She therefore decline to grant a faculty in respect of the old and new fonts, but granted a faculty for the remaining items.

The Chancellor granted a faculty for reordering in the Grade I listed church, in order to provide toilet and kitchen facilities, screening off of the north transept and the provision of storage. The Chancellor was satisfied that the degree of harm to the significance of the church as a building of special architectural or historic interest would not be substantial and the public benefit of the works would outweigh any harm. Also, the changes would be entirely reversible, with negligible impact on the fabric.

The petition requested a confirmatory Faculty to regularize the unlawful installation of 6 combination light and heating chandeliers to replace the previous chandeliers and the current oil-fired heating system. The new chandeliers had been installed after the proposals had been recommended by the Diocesan Advisory Committee, but before the petition had been referred to the Chancellor. There was one party opponent. The Chancellor considered that the new chandeliers were not quite as attractive as the ones they replaced, but were efficient and cheap to run. He was, however, concerned that the new wiring was “deplorable”. He granted a faculty, subject to conditions that steps should be taken to mitigate the damage cause by the wiring; photographs of the original chandeliers should be archived, and the original chandeliers should then be sold.

Extensive reordering works were proposed for the Grade I church. There were several written objections, but none of the objectors wished to be a party opponent. There were no objections from the amenity societies consulted. The Chancellor, being satisfied that the petitioners had made out a good case for the works (" ... the proposed changes will result in greater liturgical freedom, pastoral well-being, involvement of the congregation, opportunities for mission and use of the church generally"), granted a faculty.

Extensive reordering works were proposed for the Grade I church. There were several written objections, but none of the objectors wished to be a party opponent. There were no objections from the amenity societies consulted. The Chancellor, being satisfied that the petitioners had made out a good case for the works (" ... the proposed changes will result in greater liturgical freedom, pastoral well-being, involvement of the congregation, opportunities for mission and use of the church generally"), granted a faculty.

The proposal was for two new glass porches, at the north and south entrances of the Grade I church. There was an issue about the north porch. Historic England felt that the new woodwork should reflect the woodwork in the rest of the church, whereas the petitioners favoured a design to match the woodwork of the adjacent shop and servery in the north-west corner of the church. The Chancellor considered that the wordwork of the new north porch should relate to the modern design of the adjacent servery, and he granted a faculty accordingly.