Moving Forward in Mission Spring 2008 Conferences.

Moving Forward in MissionSpring 2008 Conferences

Moving Forward in Mission conferences – Spring 2008

Church Buildings and related changes under the

DPMM 2007

Paul LewisChurch Commissioners


Key Changes

• General duty applies• New terminology• Transfer of use seeking role to mission and

pastoral committee• Church Buildings Council as single central source

of information and advice on church buildings • Simplifications in process• New option under one-stage procedure - demolition

of unlisted churches outside conservation areas closure


New Terminology

• Declaration of closure for regular public worship (formerly a declaration of redundancy)

• Pastoral church buildings scheme

(a pastoral scheme involving closure of a church building)

• Pastoral (church buildings disposal) scheme (formerly a redundancy scheme)


Mission and Pastoral Committee

• Duty to maintain an overview of matters relating to church buildings in the diocese and their use

• Takes over use seeking function for closed churches (in amended form)

• Has to obtain advice in carrying out this function from Commissioners and those with expertise in management, development and disposal of property


Mission and Pastoral Committee

For churches closed or proposed for closure:

• To make every endeavour to find suitable alternative uses for listed churches or those in conservation areas

• To develop proposals for future of unlisted churches outside conservation areas – either for suitable alternative use or for demolition and disposal of the site


Church Buildings Council

• Replaces CCC and ABRC (from 11 June)

• Prepares mandatory reports when future of a church is under consideration

• Becomes the Commissioners’ expert adviser on heritage matters in respect of closed churches or those proposed for closure

• Provides heritage advice for the Churches Conservation Trust


Church Buildings Council

• ‘Statutory Advisory Committee’ will carry out functions at present performed by ABRC

• Consisting of:– ‘independent strand’ of membership - four persons

nominated by Secretary of State at DCMS specialist knowledge

– Chair and three other members of CBC


Pastoral Church Buildings Schemes

• Basic process remains broadly the same

• Commissioners continue to publish all draft schemes involve closure of a church building and/or settling its future

• (Secular) parish council becomes an interested party for these draft proposals and schemes


Pastoral Church Buildings Schemes

One- stage process• Simplified process for section 46 ‘replacement’

schemes – where Commissioners, following consultation with CBC, are satisfied with proposal for future of old building

Demolition• Demolition of unlisted buildings outside conservation

areas now permitted at time of closure as part of one-stage process

• Commissioners, after consulting CBC, must be satisfied with the proposal

• But forthcoming Heritage Protection legislation likely to affect use of this provision.


Pastoral (Church Buildings Disposal) Schemes

Two-stage process

• Use seeking process reduced from three to two years (to concentrate efforts)

• Only case with a ‘mandatory’ use seeking period will be a proposed demolition of a listed church or one within a conservation area

• DBF continues to be responsible for care and maintenance until a use is found


Other Provisions

• Churches Conservation Trust acquires a new permissive power

• Where the CBC has advised the Commissioners that, in the event of closure, the church could merit vesting in the CCT

• The Commissioners may, after consultation with the mission and pastoral committee, request the CCT to provide advice and assistance in identifying and developing proposals for a use of the church, or part of it, consistent with primary use for worship


Other Provisions

• Diocesan Board of Finance required to consult Diocesan Advisory Committee and Chancellor before transferring contents for safekeeping during use seeking period – unless it considers urgency needed makes this impracticable

• Disposal of contents when future of building settled is simplified – unless scheme directs otherwise, Bishop’s directions will apply.

• Scheme can provide for DBF, as well as Commissioners, to sell a closed church


Commissioners’ Role

• Changing role

• Moving to a professional staff

• Regionally based

• Seek planning permission in appropriate places before marketing


Eppleton All Saints


Chichester All Saints

Moving Forward in MissionSpring 2008 Conferences

Moving Forward in Mission Spring 2008 Conferences.

Documents

Transcript of Moving Forward in Mission Spring 2008 Conferences.