Building Conservation

HC Deb 09 June 1986 vol 99 cc13-4

20. Mr. Chapman

asked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, if the Church Commissioners have made any assessment of the state of conservation of those buildings under their control which enjoy exemption from listed buildings control.

Sir William van Straubenzee

The Church of England's statutory systems for the care and control of its churches include the regular quinquennial inspection of every church by an architect and ensures that neither the fabric nor contents can be altered without authority. Further, the Pastoral Measure contains statutory procedures for dealing with redundant churches. A listed Church of England church thus has a three times better chance of avoiding demolition than does a secular listed building.

Mr. Chapman

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that information. It confirms that the Church of England's record on protecting its ecclesiastical architectural heritage is much more successful than that of the country in protecting its listed buildings. Does my hon. Friend agree that any attempt by the House to get rid of the ecclesiastical exemption would be a bad thing and would be — to use a perhaps not inappropriate phrase —tempting providence?

Sir William van Straubenzee

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for paying tribute to the Church of England's strict discipline in relation to its great heritage of ancient buildings. I share his view that that is a better form of protection than that provided by the state.

Mr. J. Enoch Powell

Will the Church Commissioners take steps to ensure that the visitation by archdeacons is used, as it is intended to be, as a means of ensuring that there are not continuing defects that will lead eventually to expensive disrepair?

Sir William van Straubenzee

When I reply that I believe so, it is because the Church Commissioners as such —as I know the right hon. Gentleman appreciates—have no direct responsibility for the work of the archdeacons. However, the right hon. Gentleman draws attention to one of the safeguards to which I referred in my main answer.