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Alphabetical Index of all judgments on this web site as at 10 September 2024

Judgments indexed by Diocese:
2024 Judgments
2023 Judgments
2022 Judgments
2021 Judgments

The proposal was to install 28 black solar panels on the existing slate roof on the south side of the Grade II* church, with associated battery storage to be installed in the church tower. The Lake District National Park Authority had refused planning permission, but the petitioners were planning an appeal. The Diocesan Advisory Committee (“DAC”) had recommended the proposal, but Historic England, the Georgian Group and Historic Buildings & Places had raised objections, without becoming parties opponent. The Chancellor considered that the proposal, if implemented, would cause only moderate harm to the building and would be reversible. He also observed that the proposal would be a response to the Church of England’s call to action in respect of climate change. He granted a faculty subject to conditions that planning consent should first be obtained and that the panels should be removed after 26 years, the DAC’s estimate as to the probable lifespan of the panels.

Major re-ordering proposal; objection by parishioner; Grade 1 listed church of exceptional significance, by Hawksmoor; DAC neither opposed to nor recommending approval; enhanced Duffield principles engaged (Re St Alkmund, Duffield [2013] Fam 158); proposals included removal of Victorian box pews; works at gallery level; creation of new doorway and lift access to crypt and upper levels; new staircase, and numerous other detailed improvements. Assessment of potential harm to significance of building, consideration of options and proposed mitigations, and the statement of need and public benefit; Faculty granted subject to conditions; details to be submitted to and approved by DAC in consultation with Historic England

The proposal was to replace the church organ’s current tuba rank with the rank from the redundant organ at St Elphin’s Church Warrington, which would be on a long-term loan, and also to install a small booster chest. The Deputy Chancellor granted a faculty.


Faculty granted for telecomms antennae to be placed in the tower of a Grade II* early nineteenth century church.

The Vicar and Churchwardens wished to replace the three existing gas heating boilers in the church with one new gas boiler. Their petition was urgent because the existing boilers had failed. The proposal was unopposed and was recommended by the Diocesan Advisory Committee, which had certified that the parish’s consideration of the net zero issue had been adequate. The petitioners proposed that a new boiler would be a temporary measure, as they intended in due time, when funds were available, to install heat pumps, for which they had already undertaken preliminary work. The Chancellor granted a faculty.

The petition proposed a reordering, the main item of which was to construct a 'tower' three storey structure at the east end of the church (which was consecrated in 1933) to provide room facilities on three levels. One wall of the new facilities would become a reredos for the remaining east end space, which would continue to be used for worship. Other items proposed included the removal of the baldachino and the removal of two very large murals (affixed to, not painted on) the walls of the nave, and the moving of the font to the east end of the south aisle. The Chancellor granted a faculty for all the items, except for the moving of the font.

The Chancellor considered two petitions: (1) a petition by the deceased's partner to replace a memorial installed without authority by the deceased's son, and (2) a petition by the Archdeacon to replace the existing memorial with a memorial containing only the names and dates of birth and death of the deceased. The Chancellor had asked the Archdeacon to petition, so that, in default of an agreement between the parties as to a replacement memorial, the Chancellor was able to grant a faculty for a memorial with no contentious inscription. The Chancellor granted a faculty on petition (1), on the basis of an amended inscription agreed by the parties, and granted a faculty in relation to petition (2) in case the proposed memorial approved under petition (1) was not installed.

The war memorial in the churchyard recorded those who died in the First World War. The petitioners wished to add a plaque to record those who died in the Second World War. The plaque had already been cast, but not installed, prior to the petition being presented to the Chancellor. The Chancellor grnated a faculty, subject to the words “YOUR LIFE! OUR FREEDOM!"  
being removed from the plaque.

A faculty was granted for installation of telecommunications equipment. There was a late objection from Westminster City Council. The judgment contains a discussion of the planning and faculty processes and also of the meaning of "materially affects the external appearance" in relation to replacement of lead-covered oak louvres with fibreglass replicas.

Proposals for reordering included replacing most of the pews with unupholstered chairs; modifications to the north transept and chapel; upgrading of the lighting and sound systems; installation of air source heat pumps; construction of a link between the church and the church hall; and works to the church hall, including internal refurbishment; installation of solar panels and external works. The Chancellor determined that the works would cause less than significant harm to the church and that the public benefit would outweigh any such harm. He therefore granted a faculty.

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