Rochester Consistory Court: Goodman Ch, April 2003
St Mary’s Shortlands was built in 1955 with a wide and open appearance and a traditional stone pedestal font to the west end of the nave. Baptisms had been held in accordance with Canons F 1 and F 21 in that font during principal morning service. Due to discomfort and crowding the incumbent had accepted the gift of a tabletop font and had used it in accordance with Canon F21 but at the top of the chancel steps. This had been a pastoral success but had not been subject to a faculty. The chancellor ruled that the use of a tabletop font without the grant of a faculty fell outside the de minimis provisions (Care of Churches and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 1991, s. 11 (8)) but that he could exercise his discretion to grant a confirmatory faculty until further order.
(2004) 7 Ecc LJ 363
