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The Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough

Historic Churches

9th Annual Report

Introduction

This is the Ninth Annual Report of the Diocese of Middlesbrough Historic Churches Committee and covers the period of 1st January 2004 to 31st December 2004.

The Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has produced a directory on the Ecclesiastical Exemption from listed Building Control. This directory was approved at the Bishops’ Conference at its Low Week meeting 1999. A further expanded second edition was published January 2000.

Membership

The members of the committee are appointed by the Bishop for a three-year period of office. The composition of the committee is in accordance with the recommendations of the Bishops’ Conference Directory.

The current membership is in accord with the Diocesan Statutes:

Chairman Rt Rev Mgr D C Hogan
Vicar General Rt Rev Mgr R Morgan
Finance Officer Dr J Whiston
Diocesan Art and Architecture Committee Rt Rev Mgr D C Hogan
Liturgy Commission Rev G Robinson
Diocesan Council of Priests Rev J Blenkinsopp
Religious Orders and Communities Dom B Leach OSB
Practising Architect with experience in conservation work of church buildings Mr M Desmond
Practising Artist with experience of work in churches -
Architect with an interest in Art History Mrs P Brown
Professional experience of secular planning system Dr J M Hargreaves
Lawyer Mr J Taylor
English Heritage Ms J Jackson
Joint Committee of National Amenity Societies Mr K Knight
Organ Consultant Dr J P Rowntree
Secretary Mrs P A Brown

Professor Patrick Nuttgens

During 2004 Professor Patrick Nuttgens died. The Committee has placed on record its sincere appreciation to Patrick Nuttgens for the excellent work he has done in the formation of this Committee and of the guidance and assistance he gave to it. Patrick was a national figure of distinction. He will be sadly missed.

Finance

The committee currently has no funding in its own right. However, the Committee has its own specific budget within the Diocesan Administration’s overall plan.

Chairman

Mgr D C Hogan was elected chairman at the Historic Churches Committee meeting on the 2nd October 2002 for the ensuing three years. Dr J Whiston has been re-appointed Vice Chairman for a period of three years.

Meetings

The Committee has met on two occasions during 2004 namely on the 4th February, and 16th June.

Procedures

The procedures of the Historic Churches Committee are totally in accord with the Directory of the Bishops’ Conference. The procedures of the Historic Churches Committee are established by a decree of the Diocesan Bishop. The Historic Churches Committee is accordingly authorised to issue a Faculty for any works required that are granted approval.

Consultations

In every case coming before the Committee, the Secretary consults the appropriate Local authority, English Heritage, the Ancient Monuments Society and the Victorian Society. Copies of any responses received, following these consultations, are made available to every member of the Committee. Similar arrangements apply in respect of responses made by members of the public following the public advertisement of the proposals.

The consultation on applications coming before the Committee, extends to members of the public. Applications are advertised by means of a Notice which is displayed outside each church for twenty-eight days prior to the application being considered by the Committee. In addition, for certain applications ie those which are listed as Grade 1 or Grade 11* or those applications which involve works to the exterior of any listed church, notice is also given in the local press.

Monitoring

The Guidelines require Historic Churches Committees to monitor the implementation of their decisions and keep records of completed works. As a result of this it was agreed that Architects of schemes approved by the Committee would certify at the end of the project, that all the approved work had been completed satisfactorily and that there had been no unauthorised departure from the specification or from any condition applied by the Committee. This arrangement continues to work well.

Listed Church Buildings

In the Diocese of Middlesbrough there are 25 Listed Church Buildings, 23 of these are in the ownership of the Diocese (Appendix I) and 2 churches are owned by Ampleforth Abbey Trust (Appendix II).

Churches listed or de-listed during 2004

Only two churches were newly listed during 2004, namely, The Bar Convent Chapel at York and St Margaret Clitherow, the Shambles at York.

Following the procedures of Canon Law, St Patrick’s church at Whitby was closed on 28 December 2003.

There is an Index of all listed churches within the Middlesbrough Diocese and this has been updated as new/changed listings come to the notice of the Committee.

Summary of Applications received in 2004

The following applications have been received in the period covered by the report:

Grade II applications 2
Grade II* applications 0

The following is a summary of the decision of the committee in respect of these applications:

Approved subject to conditions 1
Refused 0
Referred back to applicant 0

New Window in the Holy Cross Chapel at Ampleforth Abbey

After discussion and sighting of the full scale ‘cartoon’ of the proposed new window design, a Faculty was granted for the installation of the new stained glass window into the Chapel of the Holy Cross in the Abbey Church.

St George’s York

The original request was for the restoration of the church organ and it being restored to a central position with lighting. A Faculty was granted first of all for the removal, repair and restoration of the Davis organ in this church. As a result of this, further interim Faculties were granted to investigate the floor structure of the Choir Loft and to make recommendations as to alterations, as well as redecoration of the ceiling and walls nearest to the gallery before the organ is replaced.

After several site visits by members of the Committee and after receiving considerable written submissions from Dr J Rowntree, the Committee then formally met Dr Rowntree and, as a consequence of that meeting, a Faculty was issued for the completion of the work.

Quinquennial Inspections

During the course of the year the whole system has been re-examined and a new schedule has been put in place, which will commence from 2005.

Friends of Historic Churches

Members of the committee act as friends and informal advisors to the Historic Churches - (see Appendix III).

Clergy Conference 2004 - The work of the Historic Churches Committee

A meeting of all the Diocesan Clergy was held in York in March 2004 in order to explain the historical background of Ecclesiastical Exemption, the work of the HCC, and the roles of the various bodies with which the HCC is required to work with. Dr June Hargreaves provided a most stimulating paper and answered a wide range of questions. The HCC was particularly grateful for the presence of the Bishop of Middlesbrough, the Rt Rev John Crowley, at the whole meeting, and wishes to record its thanks and appreciation to him.

Acknowledgements

The Diocese of Middlesbrough wishes to record its appreciation to all the organisations that offer advice and assistance to enable repairs to be carried out to its churches. Particular mention and gratitude is expressed to the Patrimony Sub-Committee for their continual assistance and encouragement in the work of our Diocesan Committee.

We look forward to a continuous working relationship with all related organisations.

dch/pab
February 2005