Public Meeting               St John’s Kates Hill Dudley                28^th January 2005

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1.      A Short history       St John’s church building was erected in 1840 and extended about 30 years later. It was constructed of limestone shoddies with natural stone dressings of soft Gornal sandstone. It is unlisted and of no significant architectural or historic interest. The original churchyard was enlarged three times in 1863, 1890 and 1930.

 

2.      Architect’s Reports of 1992 and 1997 indicate serious erosion of the sandstone stonework and signs of dry rot in the roof beams. Although steps were taken after 1992 to eradicate the dry rot, the five-yearly report of 2002 identified deterioration of the building “at an accelerating pace”, a risk of falling masonry, and a potential weakening of the timbers such that “the roof may be in danger of collapse during high winds or heavy snowfall.”  The advice on health and safety grounds was to close the building, and board it up. This was acted on at once.

 

3.      A Living Church    Although the building has been closed since December 2002, the committed congregation has continued with the core activities of worship and mission, based in the church hall across the road, which is now licensed for public worship.

 

4.      What to do next?   For 2 years the Church Council has considered options such as

¨            Repair – a thorough structural investigation would have cost £50,000 and subsequent work                estimated at £750,000 at least. There are no obvious sources of funding.

¨            Redundancy

It held a public meeting in November 2003 and resolved in 2004 to approach the Diocesan authorities with a view to a declaration of redundancy.

 

5.      What is Redundancy?    A church building may be considered to be redundant if

¨            It has outlived its original purpose and is no longer needed pastorally

¨            It is structurally unsound – which is the reason for seeking redundancy in this case

Ultimately it is the Church Commissioners who recommend to the Crown whether a redundancy may be declared and what happens afterwards, based on reports received from the Diocesan Secretary and from their own Advisory Board. They will want to know the views of church members, the local community, and any appropriate amenity groups. Legislation concerning redundancy is set out in the 1983 Pastoral Measure. Provision is made for objection and appeal.

 

6.      After a church has been declared redundant one of three things can happen:

1.    An alternative use can be sought (the site and structural problems work against this)

2.    If listed it could be vested in the Churches Conservation Trust (St John’s is unlisted )

3.    It can be demolished (normally a last resort, but may be the only realistic course).

 

7.      Who pays?  At the point that a church building is formally declared redundant, all liabilities and responsibilities pass from the Parochial Church Council and incumbent to the Diocesan Board of Finance. The PCC remains responsible for the churchyard which in this case would not be included in a redundancy pastoral scheme.

 

8.      Possible course of events    A declaration of redundancy could be made within 12 - 18 months.  If the Church Commissioners are clear that demolition is the only realistic option, they could get ready to make a redundancy scheme which settles the future of the building, and enables demoliton to follow the declaration.

 

The Ven Fred Trethewey                                               Archdeacon of Dudley

C OF E JANUARY 2005