Calling Time: Notes on closing a church

5 Finding another use for the building

Once the church has been declared redundant by Order in Council, and this has come into effect, the building passes to the Redundant Churches Uses Committee of the diocese. It is their responsibility to insure the building and to see that the contents are disposed of or conserved appropriately. It is their task to find another use for the building.

Broadly there are 3 options available.

A Building that is of outstanding historic, architectural or archaeological importance may be vested in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. It will then be preserved as an ancient monument. It has to be noted that by no means all redundant churches are accepted by the trust. This is an option for those of particular conservation interest.

Where the trust is not an option, or a church is not accepted by the trust, the diocesan Redundant Churches Uses Committee will consider alternative uses. This will include selling the property for conversion. Conservation issues continue to apply and the local authority conservation officer will advise on the kinds of uses that would be considered appropriate. Some look for the integrity of the building to be respected and so a new use should be sympathetic and probably involve minimal alterations.

It can take years to find an appropriate alternative use for a church. Through out this ‘waiting period’ the building will need to be maintained and it is helpful to have someone locally who would take on the role of caretaker, who would keep an eye on it. The Redundant Churches Uses Committee will appoint a surveyor or an architect to advise on necessary repairs and conservation. The parish remains responsible for the church grounds, unless these have been formally closed by Order in Council and responsibility passed to the local authority.

In extreme cases where no use can be found and the building is not of particular historic, architectural or archaeological importance then it may be decided that demolition would be the best course of action. Such action would require local authority backing. It is to avoid this last extreme option that finding another use can take years.

The final decision on what is to happen to a building lies with Church Commissioners.

Even where a church has been sold, if at a future date its purchaser fails to look after the property adequately, the building can find its way back into the diocese’s care. There is a sense in which a redundant church never really leaves the Church.

When the redundancy comes into effect, until provision is made for what is to happen to the building, the contents of the building are vested in the Diocesan Board of Finance. It is their responsibility to arrange insurance cover. The parish needs to liase with the diocesan officials concerned about moving any items from the church.

Some items are fairly straightforward. Vestments, hymn books, prayer books etc should be removed straight away. Others such as fonts, altars, Communion plate etc should be transferred to another church in the area of the benefice or diocese as directed by the bishop. Further details can be found in the Church Commissioners’ publication Pastoral Measure 1983: Code of Recommended Practice, to which reference should be made.

Summary of observations:

It is important to liase with the diocesan officials before removing items from the church.
It is helpful for someone locally to act as caretaker of the building so that someone continues to keep an eye on it.
Responsibility for maintaining the church grounds remains with the PCC unless previously closed by Order in Council and passed to the local authority.
The ‘waiting period’, while another use is found or final resolution is reached, may take years!

18th May 2002

Last updated February 2008