Re: St. Mary Magdalene, Clitheroe (Blackburn Consistory Court; Quentin Edwards Ch. 1990)

A petition for a faculty for the re-ordering of the east end of a parish church (dating from 1152 but rebuilt in 1828) was dismissed on the grounds that:

1. There was inadequate consultation within the congregation and the wider parish. The proper course, which was not followed, would have been to hold a public meeting.
2. Plans of sufficient accuracy were not made available.
3. There was no sufficient estimate of the costs.
4. In any event the design of the re-ordering was unsatisfactory, in particular with the choir facing the congregation which would result in a loss of solemnity and reverence.

As to costs, the Chancellor ordered the petitioner to pay the costs of the parties opponent because the parties opponent had reasonably objected to proposals which had not been properly formulated.

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(1990) 2 Ecc LJ 64