HC Deb 18 January 1982 vol 16 cc29-30W
Mr. Field

asked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, which dioceses have established stores for materials removed from redundant churches, and which have not.

Sir William van Straubenzee

I am informed that 12 dioceses currently have stores for the housing of such furnishings from redundant churches as cannot be disposed of directly. These dioceses are Blackburn, Bristol, Chichester, Derby, Durham, Hereford, Lincoln, Manchester, Norwich, Oxford, Wakefield and Worcester.

The dioceses without such a store are Bath and Wells, Birmingham, Bradford, Canterbury, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Chester, Coventry, Ely, Exeter, Gloucester, Guildford, Leicester, Lichfield, London, Newcastle, Peterborough, Portsmouth, Ripon, Rochester, St. Albans, St. Edmundsbury and Ipswich, Salisbury, Sheffield, Southwark, Southwell, Truro, Winchester and York. Note: The Pastoral Measure does not apply to the dioceses of Sodor and Man or Europe.

Mr. Field

asked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, which dioceses have appointed a redundant churches furnishing officer following the circular published by the Church Commissioners in 1974, and which have not.

Sir William van Straubenzee

All dioceses which had not appointed a redundant churches furnishings officer prior to 1974 have since done so.

Mr. Field

asked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, if he is satisfied that the procedures for cataloguing and arranging for the right disposition of the contents of redundant churches, as outlined in the Church Commissioners' code of recommended practice, is now followed in each diocese.

Sir William van Straubenzee

The disposal of contents of redundant churches is a diocesan responsibility. The commissioners are not in a position to enforce the procedures outlined in the code of recommended practice under the Pastoral Measure. However, certain cases have recently been reported to the Church Commissioners from which, it would appear, that not all the recommended procedures have been followed. In view of this, the commissioners intend to remind all dioceses of their responsibilities in the proper care and disposal of contents from redundant churches.

Mr. Field

asked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, whether an inventory of the furniture and fittings of St. John, Birkenhead, and Holy Trinity, Birkenhead, was prepared prior to the closure of these churches; and what happened to these contents when the churches were demolished.

Sir William van Straubenzee

An inventory of the furniture and fittings of each of these churches was prepared upon closure. The contents of St. John's were transferred in the main to other churches within the Birkenhead deanery.

Holy Trinity church, unfortunately, was vandalised to such an extent that the building had to be demolished as a dangerous structure. The contents, with the exception of the plate and a painting which were disposed of within the diocese, were destroyed by the vandals.

Mr. Field

asked the hon. Member for Wokingham as representing the Church Commissioners, if he is satisfied that redundant churches' furnishings officers are carrying out the duties laid down in the Church Commissioners' 1974 circular.

Sir William van Straubenzee

The commissioners' 1974 circular has been superseded by section C7 of the Code of Recommended Practice under the Pastoral Measure although this section reiterates much of the advice given in 1974. Diocesan redundant churches furnishings officers are responsible to their bishop and not to the commissioners for the proper discharge of their duties. The commissioners have sought to ensure, however, that furnishings officers are aware of the importance of recognising the aesthetic and commercial value of contents of redundant churches and the most appropriate methods of disposal of material no longer required for use in a church.