Ratio Decidendi
The consistory court may grant a faculty for the removal of church pews and their replacement with chairs where this serves the church's mission, even if objectors prefer to preserve the traditional appearance.
ਤੱਥ
The PCC applied for a faculty to remove Victorian pews from the nave and replace them with chairs to allow more flexible use of the building. Objectors argued the pews were of historic significance and should be preserved.
ਫੈਸਲੇ ਦਾ ਸਾਰ
The Chancellor granted the faculty. Applying the Duffield guidelines, the court weighed the needs of the church's mission against the heritage value of the pews. The flexibility provided by chairs would enable the church to serve its community better, and this outweighed the heritage interest.
ਮੁੱਖ ਹਵਾਲੇ
"The primary purpose of a church building is for worship and mission. Heritage considerations are important but do not necessarily trump the church's pastoral and missional needs."
— Deputy Chancellor Hodge
ਬਾਅਦ ਦਾ ਇਲਾਜ
Part of the body of faculty jurisprudence balancing mission needs against heritage concerns.