§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many listed churches, or churches in conservation areas, have been demolished under the procedure established by the Pastoral Measure 1968 and the Redundant Churches and other Religious Buildings Act 1969.
§ Mr. Terry WalkerI have been asked to reply.
Of 537 churches declared redundant since 1st April 1969 when the Pastoral Measure came into operation, 171 have been appropriated to other uses, 85 have been transferred to the Redundant Churches Fund or the Department of the Environment for care and maintenance and 142 have been demolished. Of the 142, 23 were listed—16 in Grade C and 483W 7 in Grade B or Grade II. The future of the remaining 139 churches has yet to be decided.
In none of the 23 "listed" cases did the Advisory Board for Redundant Churches—the statutory body with a duty to advise the Commissioners as to the historic or architectural interest of redundant churches—recommend that the building should be transferred to the Redundant Churches Fund for care and maintenance.
Of the 119 "unlisted" churches which have been demolished, five were in outstanding conservation areas.