§ Mr. Fieldasked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, if he will list the number of churches declared redundant in each of the last 10 years; and of these, how many have been made over to (a) other denominations, (b) alternative uses and (c) the redundant churches fund or (d) have been demolished.
§ Sir William van StraubenzeeThe following table indicates the number of churches declared redundant between 1 April 1969, the operative date of the Pastoral Measure 1968, and 31 December 1982. I hope the hon. Gentleman will find it helpful to have the figures for the slightly longer period. I should, however, explain that from 1969 to 1979 the figures are given for each year ending 31 March, whereas from 1980 they are on a calendar year basis.
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Number of Churches declared Redundant under the Pastoral Measure 1968 Year Number 1969–70 10 1970–71 45 1971–72 107 1972–73 102 1973–74 106 1974–75 93 1975–76 86 1976–77 89 1977–78 62 1978–79 58 *1/4–31/12/79 *36 1980 73 1981 66 1982 63 Total 996 * 9 months only Of the total of 996 redundant churches listed above, together with 42 churches closed under previous legislation, the future of 908 had been settled by 31 December 1982 as follows:
Per cent. (i) Appropriated to alternative uses 475 52 (ii) Preserved by (a) Redundant churches fund 182 (b) Department of the Environment 4 186 21 (iii) Demolished 247 27 Total 908 100 The figure of 475 in category (i) above includes 60 churches which have been appropriated to use by other Christian bodies.