Reordering

The Vicar and Churchwardens of the unlisted Victorian church petitioned to remove the existing stone font (installed in 1975), situated at the north-east end of the nave, near the pulpit, and to replace it with a new portable solid-oak font, retaining the original font's bowl and cover. There was one letter of objection. The Chancellor granted a faculty, subject to a condition that, when not in use, the font should be positioned at the west end of the church. The Chancellor also authorised the disposal of the stone font, provided that if it could not be used in another church or appropriate setting, it should be buried in the churchyard.

A reordering programme was proposed, including: installation of kitchen and toilets; installation of a ‘heritage display’ and meeting room; creation of ceramic tile heritage pavement; removal of pews; creation of a ringing gallery;  window repairs; clock repairs; restoration of a chest; installation of a sound system; installation of a heating system; repair to gates. The Chancellor granted a faculty for the majority of the works. In particular, he excluded the tiled heritage pavement.

Whilst acknowledging the success of a recent major internal reordering of the church, Historic England were unhappy about proposals to install new audio-visual equipment, namely, screens in the aisles, fixed to the pillars, and replacement loudspeakers. The Chancellor was satisfied with the need for the equipment, and agreed to the proposals, subject to conditions that: (1) the screens would have a white or no border, so that they would blend with the white background; (2) the screens would be no wider than the pillars; (3) the Diocesan Advisory Committee should approve the fixings and (4) the loudspeakers should be four steerable beam loudspeakers at high level.

The faculty petition proposed the installation of a new font bowl and also a new stained glass window, which would replace a clear glass window near the font. There were two letters of objection in respect of the window. Applying the principles laid down in Re St. Alkmund Duffield [2012] (Court of Arches), the Chancellor was satisfied that any harm to the building would be minimal and that the design was appropriate, and he therefore granted a faculty.

The petitioners sought a faculty to permit the replacement of the heating system in the Grade I listed church and the removal of the Victorian nave pews and their replacement with chairs. One parishioner and the Victorian Society objected, but neither wished to be a party opponent. The Chancellor decided that the public benefit resulting from the proposals outweighed the harm which would be caused and that therefore a faculty should issue.

The proposals were to install lavatories and re-locate the kitchen servery, removing 10 (of a total of 60) pews from the end of the nave and 6 pews from the east end of the nave. The objective was to improve health and safety, create a better area for families during baptism, and to provide a more usable area for a wide range of activities alongside the provision of worship. The Victorian Society objected to the number of pews to be removed, but it did not become a party opponent. The Chancellor determined that a moderate degree of harm would be caused to the building, but that this could be justified by the church's needs.

The petition sought approval for the replacement of moveable audio-visual equipment with permanently fixed equipment in a Grade I listed late 14th century church, which would involve the removal of three pews to make room for a mixing desk. There were two parties opponent and three other objectors and the matter was determined on written representations. Faculty granted subject to conditions that (1) all equipment was to be indelibly marked, (2) certain equipment should be fitted with tracker devices and (3) the mixing desk should have front and sides made from the pews that would be removed.

The petition proposed major reordering works at St Andrew Hove, a Grade II* listed church. The proposals included replacing pews with chairs, installing kitchen and toilet facilities, improving accessibility, creating office space, introducing solar panels, and undertaking external works. Although unopposed, several heritage bodies (including SPAB, Historic England, and the Victorian Society) raised concerns, particularly about mezzanine structures, internal “pods,” and seating changes. The Chancellor applied the ‘Duffield’ framework, recognising a presumption against change and requiring clear justification for harm to the building’s significance. He found that, despite some fairly significant harm, the proposals would deliver substantial benefits by improving usability, accessibility, and sustainability, and were the product of careful consultation and revision. However, he was not satisfied that raising the chancel platform to the proposed height was necessary. Accordingly, a faculty was granted subject to revision of the chancel height.

A faculty was sought for reordering, which included works to the south porch and the west end of the nave of the Grade I listed church, including the repositioning of three rows of pews and adjustment of floor levels. The Chancellor granted a faculty

The proposal was to hang an ebony and ivory cross above the pulpit, with a small silver plaque nearby. The cross was a gift in memory of two former parishioners. There was one objection from a member of the Parpochial Church Council. As the majority of the Parochial Church Council were in favour of the proposal, the Chancellor granted a faculty.