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What is a Redundant Church?

Redundant churches are no longer required by the Church of England for public worship and are formally closed under Church legislation (the Pastoral Measure 1983).

The Pastoral Measure also sets out procedures for settling the future of these buildings. The main emphasis is on finding suitable alternative uses to preserve these important parts of our national heritage.

Each diocese (the Church of England territorial unit roughly equivalent to a county) is responsible for finding new uses for redundant churches in its area. A Uses Committee in each diocese carries out this work and usually appoints a firm of agents to market the building.

 

Examples of Alternative Uses of Redundant Churches

Most proposals sensitive to the setting and history of each building will be welcome in principle and many suitable new uses have been found for redundant churches including

  • places of worship for other Christian bodies
  • civic, cultural or community use
  • arts and crafts, music or drama centres
  • museums
  • sports use
  • storage
  • office or light industrial use
  • housing

 

 

 

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