In light of the lack of objection and a recommendation from the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC), the chancellor had granted a faculty for the disposal of a bell dated 1700 which had been stored at the rear of the nave of the church for 41 years. The parish sought removal of the bell as it significantly impeded the development and use of space in the building and posed a risk of theft. Subsequently the Church Buildings Council (CBC) asked to be consulted on the matter, which the chancellor permitted. The advice of the CBC was that the bell was of particular historic interest and should be re-hung in the tower for use. The DAC advised that the bell was of poor tonal quality and only one of 25 in the diocese cast by the same maker. It advised that the bell should be removed to the diocesan store. The chancellor treated the bell as a church treasure for the purposes of the decision of the Court of Arches in Re St Lawrence, Oakley with Wootton St Lawrence [2014] WLR (D) 176. He held that the redundancy of the bell was evident from its resting undisturbed on the floor of the nave for 41 years. The parish had no use for another service bell, and this one was of poor tonal quality such that it should not be re-hung in the tower. The grounds for disposal were sufficiently compelling to outweigh the strong presumption against disposal. The faculty was granted. [RA]
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