Re: St. John The Evangelist, Whittle-le-Woods (Blackburn Consistory Court; Quentin Edwards Ch. July 1987)

A confirmatory faculty was sought for the installation of short wave infrared electric radiant ("Quartzray") heaters in a large and handsome Victorian church which was a Grade II listed building. The heaters supplemented an oil
fired heating system. According to the petitioners the "Quartzray" heaters were a success in terms of comfort, convenience and economy. The Chancellor, however, accepted evidence from the Diocesan Advisory Committee that; such heaters were visually obtrusive, seriously marred the interior of the church, and were liable in the long term to have an adverse effect on the fabric. With proper attention the central heating by itself ought to raise the temperature to an acceptable level of 58 degrees F; if necessary the central heating could be supplemented by convector heaters. The parish had already spent £6,000 on the "Quartzray" heaters and the Chancellor was reluctant to order removal of the heaters and the consequential waste of that money. A faculty was accordingly granted limited to four years duration, upon the petitioners undertaking; to instruct an independent heating engineer to prepare a report; to submit copies of the report with the Parochial Church Council's proposals to the Registrar; and to seek further directions of the court upon such proposals. Per curiam: The Chancellor said he cannot emphasise too strongly the importance of consulting a qualified and independent engineer before embarking on a new scheme for heating, or supplementing the heating of a church.

---

(1988) 1:3 Ecc LJ 29