Reordering

A number of improvements were proposed to a 1950s unlisted church, including replacement of the felt roof covering with pre-coated zinc, replacement of windows; and improvements to the entrance to the church. The Twentieth Century Society objected to the proposals, but did not wish to become a party to the proceedings. Faculty granted.

The Petition related to internal re-ordering, including a new disabled toilet, new screens, new furniture, and removal of some pews. Objections from the Victorian Society, the Ancient Monuments Society, the Stafforfdshire Historic Buildings Trust and a regular worshipper at the church related to the replacement of the Victorian main entrance door, which was part of a re-ordering carried out by Gilbert Scott in 1842, and the insertion of new outer doors to the porch. The Deputy Chancellor granted a faculty, subject to (inter alia) a condition that the Gilbert Scott door should be retained in an appropriate place in the church, in view of its historical and architectural significance.

Petition for the removal of box pews, installation of new flooring and under-floor heating, WCs, a kitchen, and removal of the font. The whole project was dependent on the removal of the box pews. Faculty granted.

The petitioners (the Rector, a Churchwarden and the PCC Secretary) sought a faculty to authorise the removal of three pews from the east end of the nave, two on the south side and one on the north side, in order to provide space for those with wheelchairs, for instrumentalists and singers, for a projector and screen on the south side. and to give more space for those attending wedding couples. The Chancellor determined that the modest harm to the character of the church would be outweighed by the clear and significant public benefit flowing from the proposal.

The works proposed included the conversion of an existing kitchen at the east of the north aisle to a new WC, with with disabled access and baby-changing facilities, and the creation of a new kitchen 'pod' in the north east corner of the north aisle. The Chancellor determined that the proposals would cause only moderate harm to the appearance of the Grade I listed church, which would be outweighed by the benefits of the new facilities. He therefore granted a faculty.

The priest in charge and churchwardens petitioned for a faculty to permit reordering works, including the provision of kitchen servery and toilet facilities, a renewed heating system and the removal of some pews to create a more flexible space in the church, in order to advance the church's worship and mission. Notwithstanding concerns of the Victorian Society and the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, the Chancellor determined to grant a faculty, being satisfied that any harm to the significance of the church was likely to be outweighed by the public benefits to be generated as a result of the proposals.

The Chancellor granted a faculty for an extension to the church to provide a Church Room, Historic England and the Victorian Society having indicated that they had no objections to the proposal.

Reordering proposals included replacing the church pews with chairs, new audio-visual equipment, moving the font, an accessible WC, a kitchenette, storage and blue carpet runners. The petitioners' objective was to make the church more suitable for church and community events, to try and increase the church's income, in order to raise money for repairs to the roof. The Diocesan Advisory Committee recommended the proposals. There were no objections in response to public notices, but all the amenity societies consulted (though none became parties opponent) objected to metal framed upholstered chairs. The Chancellor was satisfied that the petitioners had made a good case for the works and granted a faculty for all the works, subject to the replacement chairs being made of wood, in accordance with the guidelines of the Church Buildings Council.

The Rector and fellow petitioners applied for the Victorian church organ to be declared redundant and removed, whilst retaining the decorative front row of pipes between the chancel and the vestry behind. The description of works in the Statement of Needs decribed the works slightly differently by saying that the organ should be placed on the Redundant Organ List of the Institute of British Organ Builders ("IBO"). A report from the Church Buildings Council recommended that the organ was of sufficient quality to merit its relocation as a complete instrument and that it should be placed on the IBO list. The Deputy Chancellor declared that the organ was redundant and that the complete organ shall be put on the IBO list for a minimum of six months. He also directed that amended plans be prepared for the division of the chancel from the vestry using oak panelling.

The petition sought permission for the introduction into the church of 150 new upholstered chairs of mixed colours - 65 white, 65 light blue, 10 pink and 10 lavender. The chairs had in fact already been installed, the petitioners having felt under pressure to install them before a visit by the Bishop to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the consecration of the church, and replying on a recommendation of the Diocesan Advisory Committee. The Church Buildings Council did not favour upholstered chairs, nor multiple colours, if upholstery were allowed. The Chancellor determined that there was no convincing need for more than one colour, but bearing in mind that the majority of the chairs were in the two muted colours of white and light blue, and had been purchased at considerable expense, he granted a faculty for the white and blue chairs to remain, but directed that the brighter-coloured chairs (10 pink and 10 lavender) should be removed from the church.