Historic Churches Committee

by Howard Walters

In accordance with the Guidelines for Introducing and Operating the New Provisions for the ecclesiastical exemption from Listed Building Control which became effective from 1 October 1994 and in order to ensure a full and uniform effectiveness in implementing the ‘Code of Practice’, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference for England and Wales approved the setting up of diocesan and inter-diocesan Historic Churches Committees to consider applications for proposed works to churches in use where they are listed buildings in their own right or are within a conservation area.

The responsibility also extends to listed buildings in designated conservation areas contiguous to the main church buildings on sites where such buildings are extensions of and consistent with the worship, practice and devotional discipline of users, provided they are not listed in their own right, e.g. certain buildings and structures other than the abbey church in a monastic complex.

It also extends to any free-standing building, structure, tombstone, monument or memorial which is within the curtilage of the main church building and forms part of the land (and has done so since before 1 July 1948) and is not listed in its own right. It does not, however, extend to the boundaries of the curtilage itself.

Agree demarcation line

Where two or more buildings of uncertain designation are adjoining or where separate spaces of uncertain designation in a single building are adjoining or where the boundary of a curtilage is unclear, then the relevant Historic Churches Committee together with the owner(s) or trustee(s) of the building(s) and curtilage need to agree a line of demarcation with the Local Planning Authority, and a plan of the building or site drawn with the demarcation shown and copies kept by all relevant parties.

The Committee has a responsibility to decide on all proposals for: * Internal and external works for the demolition, alteration, repair or extension of a listed church building which would affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest * works of demolition affecting the exterior of an unlisted church building in a conservation area * works affecting the archaeological importance of a church, or archaeological remains existing within it or its curtilage.

However, a Committee has no responsibility for making a final decision on any proposal for total demolition. If total demolition is proposed normal listed building/conservation area controls will apply (as any church building for which demolition is proposed is held to be no longer in use for ecclesiastical purposes.) A Local Planning authority, nevertheless, should welcome having the considerations taken into account by a Historical Churches Committee available to it, prior to making its decision.

Quinquennial inspection reports

Among the considerations to be taken into account by each Committee is the progress of works recommended in quinquennial fabric inspection reports relating to listed and conservation area church buildings in their care.

The membership of the Historic Churches Committee in accordance with the provisions for implementing the New ‘Code of Practice’ should be between 12 and 15 people consisting of approximately seven ex-officio members, three independent professionals and three representatives from statutory bodies, one of which should be a Local Planning Officer from one of the planning authorities within the diocese representing those authorities, a representative from English Heritage and a representative of the Joint Committee of the National Amenity Societies. At the discretion of the Committee, too, up to two representatives of those submitting a proposal may be in silent attendance and without voting rights.

It is imperative that no work should be commenced prior to approval being given by the Historic Churches Committee. For application forms and further information on Ecclesiastical Exemption from Listed Building control contact should be made with the Secretary of the Historic Churches Committee based at Saint Hugh’s House 1 Castle Quay, NOTTINGHAM NG7 1FW

Schedule of Listed Ecclesiastical Buildings and also Ecclesiastical Buildings in Conservation Areas within the Diocese of Nottingham

Churches that are listed buildings Conservation Areas are designated thus [ ]

GRADE I

All Saints Church Bakewell Road, Hassop, Derbyshire Note: the Rectory is not listed but is within the curtilage and attached to the Church

GRADE II*

Cathedral Church of St Barnabas Derby Road, Nottingham Note: the boundary wall of the Cathedral is also listed [Wellington Circus] St Mary’s Church, Bridge Gate, Derby [Strutt Park] Good Shepherd Church 3 Thackeray’s Lane, Woodthorpe, Nottingham

GRADE II

Our Lady of Lourdes Church Station Road, Ashby-de-la-Zouch Leicestershire St Thomas’s Church Cross Street, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire All Saints Church Church Street, Old Glossop, Derbyshire St Mary Crowned Church Sumner Street, Glossop, Derbyshire [St James] St Mary the Immaculate Church North Parade, Grantham, Lincolnshire [Grantham] St Mary on the Sea Church Heanage Road, Grimsby North East Lincolnshire St Charles Borromeo Church Woolley Bridge Road, Hadfield Glossop, Derbyshire St Joseph’s Goodwood Road, Leicester St Hugh’s Church, Broadgate, Lincoln [Lincoln No.1] St Mary’s Church Ashby Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire St Philip Neri Church Chesterfield Road South, Mansfield Nottinghamshire [Mansfield] Our Lady of Victories Church Coventry Road, Market Harborough Leicestershire Our Lady and St Joseph Chapel Osgodby, Lincolnshire St John the Baptist Church Thorpe End, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire St Augustine, Apostle of England Woodborough Road, Nottingham St Mary and St Augustine Church Broad Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire

The following buildings are listed but do not fall under the responsibility of the Historic Churches Committee of the Diocese of Nottingham:

St Thomas of Canterbury Chapel Exton Park, Oakham, Rutland St Francis de Sales Chapel Hainton Hall, Louth, Lincolnshire Mount St Bernard Abbey Whitwick, Leicestershire

Other listed buildings in the Diocese Listed Diocesan Buildings other than churches fall under the remit of the Local Authority and application should be made to them for approval for works to both the interior and exterior of the buildings. The HCC should also be made aware of any proposal. Grade II

Cathedral House North Circus Street, Nottingham [Wellington Circus] All Saints Presbytery 23 Belle Vue Road, Ashbourne, Derbyshire Note: Gates and piers in front of the church are listed St Mary’s Presbytery 24 Horncastle Road, Boston, Lincolnshire Note: Church forms group with Presbytery [Boston] St Thomas’s Presbytery Cross Street, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire All Saints Presbytery Glossop, Derbyshire plus: stone boundary wall, fountain, trough and gateway. St Mary’s Presbytery North Parade, Grantham, Lincolnshire [Grantham] St Mary’s Presbytery and garden walls Heneage Road, Grimsby North East Lincolnshire St Charles Borromeo Presbytery Woolley Bridge Road, Hadfield, Glossop Derbyshire St Mary’s Presbytery Ashby Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire St Philip Neri Presbytery Chesterfield Road South, Mansfield Nottinghamshire [Mansfield] Our Lady of Victories Presbytery 1 Fairfield Road, Market Harborough Leicestershire St Mary and St Augustine Presbytery Broad Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire St Mary and St Augustine Hall Broad Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire

Taking Stock The “Taking Stock” jointly funded survey with English Heritage identified the following properties as possible candidates for listing:

St Mary’s Goodliffe Street, Hyson Green, Nottingham Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Brooklyn Road, Bulwell, Nottingham St Mary’s Horncastle Road, Boston, Lincolnshire St Anne’s, Terrace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire St Norbert’s Fieldside, Crowle, North Lincolnshire The Immaculate Conception Long Lane, Charlesworth, Derbyshire Holy Cross Wellington Street, Leicester Mother of God Greencoat Road, Leicester St Mary’s, Upgate, Louth, Lincolnshire Holy Rood King Street, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire St Mary Hollins Lane, Marple Bridge, Cheshire Church of the Annunciation St Mary’s Road, New Mills, Derbyshire Holy Souls, Frodingham Road, Scunthorpe North Lincolnshire St Winefride’s Charnwood Road, Shepshed, Leicestershire

Buildings in Conservation areas within the Diocese Diocesan Buildings other than churches in Conservation Areas also fall under the remit of the Local Authority and application should be made to them for works to the exterior of the buildings only. The HCC should be made aware of any proposal. Barton Conservation Area

St Augustine Webster Church St Augustine Webster Presbytery White Cross Street, Barton-on-Humber

Belper Conservation Area

Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Presbytery Gibfield Lane, Belper, Derbyshire

Boston Conservation Area

St Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary Church St Mary’s Presbytery

Matlock Bank Conservation Area

Our Lady and St Joseph Church Our Lady and St Joseph Hall Bank Road, Matlock, Derbyshire Our Lady and St Joseph Presbytery 1 St Joseph Street, Matlock, Derbyshire

Melbourne Conservation Area

Our Lady of Mercy and St Philip Neri Church Our Lady of Mercy and St Philip Neri Presbytery Church Street, Melbourne, Derbyshire

Buxton Central Conservation Area

St Anne’s Church St Anne’s Presbytery Terrace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire

Narborough Conservation Area

St Pius X Church St Pius X Parish Room St Pius X Presbytery Leicester Road, Narborough, Leicestershire

Caistor Conservation Area

St Thomas More Chapel of Ease Caistor, Lincolnshire

Crowle Conservation Area

St Norbert’s Church St Norbert’s Priory St Norbert’s Parish Hall Fieldside, Crowle, South Humberside

New Mills Area

The Annunciation Church The Annuncation Parish Hall St Mary’s Road, New Mills, Derbyshire

Oakham Conservation Area

St Joseph’s Social Centre Mill Street, Oakham, Rutland

East Leake Conservation Area

Our Lady of the Angels Church and Hall Our Lady of the Angels Presbytery Main Street, East Leake, Leicestershire

Gorsey Bank Conservation Area

Our Lady and St Teresa of Lisieux Chapel of Ease, Wirksworth, Derbyshire

Grantham Conservation Area

St Mary’s Parish Rooms Barrowby Road, Grantham, Lincolnshire

Lincoln No.1 Conservation Area

St Hugh’s Presbytery St Hugh’s Hall Broadgate, Lincoln

Louth Conservation Area

St Mary’s Church Upgate, Louth, Lincolnshire

Market Rasen Conservation Area

Holy Rood Church, Holy Rood Presbytery Holy Rood Old School Room King Street, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire

St James Conservation Area

St Mary Crowned Presbytery St Mary’s Hall Sumner Street, Glossop, Derbyshire Private Dwelling 31 St Mary’s Road, Glossop, Derbyshire

Sleaford Conservation Area

Our Lady of Good Counsel Church Our Lady of Good Counsel Presbytery Our Lady of Good Counsel Hall Jermyn Street, Sleaford, Lincolnshire

Wellington Circus Conservation Area

Cathedral Hall College Street, Nottingham