Advice on Buildings Maintenance
Note:
In most Benefices there are three or four types of building.
1) The Parish
Church forms part of the freehold of the Rector or Vicar, and is not
part of a diocesan property portfolio. In effect, it vests in the
Incumbent for the benefit of the Parishioners at large, an idea that
came about before modern ideas of Trusts. But it is the responsibility
of the Parochial Church Council to repair and maintain the Church,
Churchyard and walls/fences (a Closed Churchyard should usually be
maintained by the Local Authority); and the Churchwardens have certain
duties as Churchwardens, Parish Officers, irrespective of their ex
officio P.C.C. Membership. While they have no right to the keys, usually
they do have a set, and in any event they have a right of access for
the purpose of carrying out their duties. The contents of the Church
vest in the Churchwardens – that includes the Organ: they are
not the property of the Incumbent or P.C.C., and are held by the Churchwardens,
it may be said, for the use of the Incumbent for the benefit of the
Parishioners. The Churchwardens are responsible for maintaining good
order, and for seating the congregation. Burials are a matter for
the Incumbent, but there will be matters there where he must work
with the P.C.C. – unauthorised monuments are a difficult problem,
requiring much tact as well as some gentle firmness.
2) The Parsonage is usually as a freehold also in the hands of the
Rector or Vicar. Repairs are the responsibility of the Diocesan Parsonages
Committee (Repair of Benefice Buildings Measure 1972). But it is in
the interests of the parishioners that the Churchwardens should take
note of needs and developments, always bearing in mind that during
a Vacancy (including a time when there is a Priest-in-Charge) the
Bishop as effectively guardian may (under the Pastoral Measure 1983)
sell the Parsonage. The Churchwardens always have a right of comment,
and the opportunity to make representations.
3) The Curate’s House/Team Vicar’s House is usually either
Glebe, and as such the property of the Diocesan Board of Finance,
and as such its responsibility; or a P.C.C. owned house, which, although
then vested in the Diocesan Authority as Custodian Trustee, is nevertheless
owned and managed – and repaired – by the P.C.C.; but
the P.C.C. may in practice often request the Incumbent and/or Churchwardens
to act for it, although the P.C.C. cannot insist on imposing any duty
upon them.
4) The Church Hall may be either a separate building in the ownership
of the P.C.C. (in which case the above remarks apply to the Hall too)
or owned by an independent or related Parish Trust or it may be part
of the Parson’s Freehold, especially where it is attached to
the Parish Church or once was part of the Church. In that case, although
control is with the Incumbent, or, during a Vacancy, with the Churchwardens,
repairs and maintenance are again a P.C.C. responsibility.
The Parish Architect is, strictly speaking, retained
by the P.C.C. for the Quinquennial Report on the Fabric of the Parish
Church. However, the Diocese has an interest in his appointment, and
will provide lists of names for Councils to choose from. It is a good
idea for the Churchwardens as well as the Incumbent to meet a prospective
Architect before his appointment is voted. Many Architects are Christians,
and sometimes a Parishioner is available for appointment. In any event,
good relationships are to be fostered, and friendship can grow into
a fruitful opportunity to the real benefit of the Church – and
sometimes of the other buildings, described above, in the parish.
The Architect should be made to feel welcome at Services (it is helpful
for him to understand how a Church is used), and it may well be appropriate
to give him an annual Luncheon, perhaps in association with a visit.
A good Architect will as often as good Churchwardens know of reliable
and competent trades people for the various tasks of maintenance and
repairs, including those that are not strictly his responsibility.
Build good relationships. Benefit from his knowledge.
A Faculty is required from the Chancellor or Archdeacon
for most Church works. Non curat lex de minimis: little jobs can be
done as required. You can change a lightbulb, but not, usually, a
carpet. If in doubt, ask: otherwise you are personally liable for
putting things right when you are caught out!
Understand the
electrical and heating installations, but do not meddle. Keep an eye
on the physical continuity of the Lightning Conductor and be sure
that it is properly checked from time to time by an approved specialist.
Have a maintenance schedule for everything – for example, to
make sure that no one has let off a fire extinguisher – it is
not good when they are needed and found empty…..Spare bulbs
and fuses are within a Churchwarden’s capacity, but, if the
steps or ladders are decrepit he should insist on new ones being bought
by the P.C.C. – wooden ladders stored near boilers dry out,
and then the rungs loosen. They may be tighter after the ladder is
left out in the rain a bit – but, remember, someone may then
use it to get on the roof and steal the lead! Binoculars and a good
Digital Zoom Camera are very useful, especially if a tripod is kept
handy, too. Churchwatch is a good concept. An Alarm system should
be considered; if installed, the Church’s location may well
necessitate its being of the constantly monitored type. Personal Attack
alarms may be wearable Remotes, linked into the main system. The Police
try to respond to personal attack alerts even more quickly than to
break-ins. The Churchwardens have some police-type powers, but prevention
is better than heavy-handed if well-meant later action. They should
certainly see that locks and bolts are oiled and operative, and that
people do not stick pins in pews to hold flowers, or fill the font
with flowers, and Insurance for voluntary Church workers is in place.
They should understand the Church Insurance Policy which the P.C.C.
will have taken out, and ensure that it is adequate not least for
the cover of the contents, many of which will be very valuable, and
some of which will need to appear as named items of value.
Attacks on the Clergy and Church Officers, or congregation,
are more common today. Liaison with the Police is wise. See that you
have good lighting. Remove graffiti promptly, employing specialists
where necessary. Do not use emulsion or other impermeable paints on
stonework/plaster etc.. The Churchwardens are responsible for taking
the Collection, through Sidesmen if that is the practice; but it is
they who should count it, or at least see that it is counted by two
people together, and entered up properly – and that visiting
clergy should sign the Register of Services.
When in doubt, ask. In a vacancy, the Rural Dean may
well be more accessible than the Architect, and glad to help as part
of his duty of care, as well as (usually) as one of the Sequestrators
with the Churchwardens.
The Link/s below
and on the links page should be found helpful,
and more detailed than our brief notes.
Advice on buildings maintenance can also be obtained through www.churchcare.co.uk
Top
