Reordering

Proposed reordering works included re-ordering the replacement of the current heating system, the replacement of the pews with chairs, the installation of new flooring, the installation of a new kitchen and disabled toilet facilities, the improvement of access for those in wheelchairs and the converting of the warden`s pews at the back of the nave into cupboards. The purpose of the re-ordering of the Church was to open up the Church for community use, as part of its outreach to the mainly Muslim community in the parish. The Chancellor was satisfied that the reordering would be a major public benefit outweighing any harm resulting from it.

Until recent years the unlisted church had been in decline. In 2021 the Diocese had designated the church as a Resource Church, with a view to developing outreach and growth, with the help of funding from the Church Commissioners. Over the past two years there had been an increase in the worshipping congregation. The church now wished to carry out major reordering, in order to make the church more welcoming and more suited to contemporary worship, which would include the reuse of the chancel as an entrance and welcome area, an altar at the west end and the pews being replaced with upholstered, stackable chairs. There was one local letter of objection. The Chancellor was satisfied that the changes were necessary and granted a faculty.

A major reordering of the Grade I church was proposed, including: a new timber floor with under-floor heating; a new ringing floor and glass screening to the tower; replacement of the pews with light-weight metal-framed chairs with wooden seats and backs; kitchenette and storage facilities; new lighting and audio-visual equipment. The Chancellor granted a faculty, being satisfied that the petitioners had made a good case for improving the church and its usability for both church and community use, in order to prevent further decline in the use of the church.

Faculty granted for the construction of a disabled toilet and storage space in the former organ chamber, and a kitchenette at the west end of the north aisle.

The proposal was to construct limed oak seating around the semi-circle of the apse of the Lady Chapel, terminating in a credence table at the southern end. The Vicar and Churchwardens and the Parochial Church Council wished to make the chapel suitable for other forms of service in addition to Holy Communion. There were three objectors in response to the public notice, only one of whom became a party opponent. His principal objection was that "The Chapel dedicated to Our Lady is for prayer and celebration of the Eucharist. It is not intended as a place for any other gathering, nor is it appropriate for con-celebration." The Chancellor was satisfied that the petitioners had made a good case for the proposals and granted a faculty.

The proposal was to improve the south west entrance into the Abbey, partly as there was no processional entry into the nave and partly to make entrance easier for the disabled. This would involve the replacement of the Victorian draught lobby. The Victorian Society opposed the proposal, but did not wish to be a party opponent. At the conclusion of a hearing, the Chancellor granted a faculty: “… I am satisfied that, although the removal or alteration of the lobby would indeed adversely affect the character of the abbey as a building of special architectural or historic interest, the necessity for change based upon the need for disabled access has clearly been proved and outweighs any argument for its retention.” The faculty was subject to a condition that the dismantled Victorian draft lobby should be stored in the abbey (in case future generations might wish to reinstate it) and the dismantled pieces should marked or labelled to show both their provenance and the fact that they remained the subject of the faculty jurisdiction.

Extensive reordering works were proposed. The controversial aspects of the proposals were the removal of the pews, their replacement with chairs, and the installation of a new timber floor. The Chancellor was satisfied that the public benefit to be derived from the works would outweigh any harm to the interior of the church and he therefore granted a faculty.

Faculty granted for the installation of an audio-visual system in a Grade II* Queen Anne church.

There were proposals for reordering and the objector objected to the moving of the tombs of two bishops who were founding members of the Community, the levelling of the floor, the provision of heating and lighting, and the removal of the choir stalls and screen. The Chancellor directed the issue of a faculty for all the proposals, apart from the moving of the two tombs.

There were extensive reordering proposals for the 1930s unlisted church at an estimated cost of nearly £1,000,000 (of which £775,000 was already available from the sale of some property): substantial reordering of the church, works to the church hall, which is a detached building, and other external works, involving the creation of an external play area, slight relocation of the war memorial, and widening of existing footpaths. The Twentieth Century Society raised no objections to the proposals. The Chancellor granted a faculty subject to a condition that no work should commence until the Parochial Church Council had raised at least £900,000.