BCD SPECIAL REPORT ON HISTORIC CHURCHES 31st ANNUAL EDITION 29 CLOSURE PROCESS Church closure in the Church of England is usually pursued as a ‘bottom up’ process at the request of an individual parochial church council (PCC) that reaches a conclusion that it can no longer support itself or its building. While the poor condition of a building can be a factor in reaching this decision, it should not be the only one, with the main test being whether the building continues to be pastorally required. This reflects the fact that the sole responsibility for maintaining churches in use rests with the PCC. The main reasons for closure are: • demographic changes (including shifts of population from rural areas to towns and from inner cities to suburbs) • overprovision of church buildings (for example of Victorian churches in some urban areas) • shrinking and ageing congregations struggling to cope with the burden of maintaining often expensive buildings • unsuitable buildings needing to be replaced. The MPM also enables dioceses to undertake a more strategic review of building needs as part of its general oversight of pastoral provision for the diocese as a whole but these are still relatively uncommon and largely focused on urban or suburban areas. The status of the established church is reflected in the consultation processes set down in the MPM, both in respect of a church closure and on its subsequent disposal for a proposed future use. This process includes certain statutory consultees including Historic England, the local planning authority and the Joint Committee of the National Amenity Societies, as well as the general public. Anyone may make a representation to the church commissioners for or against what is proposed, and their committee then determines whether the proposal should proceed. Once a church closes, responsibility for its care and maintenance passes from the PCC to the diocese which, with the church commissioners, is responsible for finding a suitable alternative use for the building. Suitability is not defined in the legislatio, but is usually a combination of pastoral, heritage, planning and financial considerations, weighted depending on the characteristics of the individual building. Fortunately, the commissioners do not have to meet the requirements of the usual charities acts for achieving the best price where the sale of a former place of worship is concerned, unlike other categories of property. Not all Christian denominations are so fortunate. The former St Mark’s, Mayfair, (Grade I) was deconsecrated in 1974 and acquired by the Grosvenor Estate. After 20 years on Historic England’s Buildings at Risk Register, it is now a popular mixed-use venue combining restaurants, bars and a community market. The disconnect between religious art and bar use shocked some critics when it opened in 2019, but its rich architectural interiors are once again accessible to all and widely appreciated. (Photo: Jonathan Taylor)
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