Durham Consistory Court: Bursell Ch, October 1998
Confirmatory faculties were sought for various unauthorised works to a Grade I listed church including the construction of a path and access ramp, the sanding of a wooden floor, alterations to pews, and the painting of the pulpit, altar rails, roof beams and corbels. The chancellor reminded the parties of the provisions of canon F13 and stated 'because the Church of England and therefore its officers such as the minister and churchwardens are trustees of the heritage for the parish, the diocese and the nation, ignorance of the law and even well intentioned breaches of the law cannot and will not be tolerated". He noted that there is very rarely anything so urgent that it cannot be dealt within twenty-four hours through the Registry, by telephone, fax or e-mail. The chancellor dealt with the various items in each of two petitions, granting certain faculties several of which had conditions attached. The PCC was ordered to pay the court fees and the costs of an objector whose objections had been vindicated.
(1999) 5 Ecc LJ 301
