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Ecclesiastical exemption
- an exemption from the provisions of The
Ancient Monuments Act
1913 secured by the Church of England by reviving the churches system of Facility Jurisdiction,
which it is claimed, offered adequate safeguards against destruction. This does not prevent
buildings being listed,
but means that the normal listed building consent procedures do not apply
while the church remains in use. This quickly became controversial, mainly because it extended
to all denominations, few of whom had any system for protecting their buildings. The Eccliastical
Exemption Order took effect in October 1994, and removed the right of excemption from any
ecclesiastical body which could not regulate itself in accordance with a code of practice set out
in Planning Policy Guidance Note 15. No parallel order exists in Scotland.
Note - Because of
ecclesiastical exemption grant for churches in use was not available fron central government, the
situation changed in 1977 and now over £120 million has been given to churches nationally. The
problem is still enormous and a special lottery initiative is expected soon. (Dec 1977)