MPCP(20)27 Church Commissioners Mission, Pastoral and Church Property Committee Closed Church of St Pinnock St Pinnock (Diocese of Truro) Representations Concerning a draft Pastoral (Church Buildings Disposal) Scheme Note by Harvey Howlett Summary (i) The Committee is invited to consider 20 representations (six against, ten in favour and four letters of comment) concerning a draft Pastoral (Church Buildings Disposal) Scheme providing for the sale of the closed church building of St Pinnock St Pinnock and part of the annexed land for educational, cultural and community purposes. (ii) The representors against question the viability and achievability of the proposal, in particular its reliance on grant funding. They question the suitability of the proposed use with only limited external space and limited access and parking. They also raise concerns about the inclusion buried churchyard in the land to be sold with the building. (iii) The letters of comment recognise that a use has to be found for the building but also have concerns about the sustainability of the proposed use and concerns on the impact of the use on the village. Historic England, consider that the suggested use of the church as a Forest School is a reasonable proposal, but raise strong concerns that the required repairs required will be a financial burden and may make the proposed use unviable. They consider that it is the responsibility of the Church of England to carry out such repairs in advance of sale. (iv) The representors in favour support the proposed use which they consider will be beneficial for the local community and of value for local schools. The prospective purchaser also sets out the background to his proposed use and how the project is to be achieved and something of the funding and grant sources for what is proposed. (v) The Archdeacon of Bodmin, writing on behalf of the Bishop of Truro has confirmed that the Diocese wish the draft Scheme to proceed notwithstanding the representations. She addresses the concerns raised and outlines the main considerations leading to the recommended disposal of the building, for the proposed uses. 1 (vi) The case has been examined by the Committee’s case sifting representatives who agreed that the representations may be considered on the basis of the papers alone. (vii) In considering the representations, the Committee will need to have regard to the legislative requirement as to the suitability of what is being proposed. If the Committee considers the proposed use to be suitable in principle, it is still possible that the use might be unsuitable in the particular circumstances of this building because of its location or other factors relating to the impact of the use. These could include the potential for disruption and disturbance to the neighbouring properties. (viii) The main issues to be considered are therefore, as follows: • Is the proposed use of the building for educational, cultural and community purposes a “suitable” use within the meaning of the Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011? • Are the concerns expressed in the representation against the draft Scheme of such substance and weight that the proposed use is to be considered unsuitable for the building in this location? • Will the proposals, taken as a whole, support the furtherance of the mission of the Church of England? Recommendation The Committee is invited to consider the representations and the issues set out in this report and, in the light of these, whether the draft Scheme should proceed. 2 Introduction 1. The Committee is invited to consider 20 representations (six against, ten in favour and four letters of comment) concerning a draft Pastoral (Church Buildings Disposal) Scheme providing for the sale of the closed church building of St Pinnock St Pinnock in the Diocese of Truro and part of the annexed land for educational, cultural and community purposes 2. The hamlet of St Pinnock lies in an isolated location some two miles west of Liskeard in east Cornwall and consist of a few cottages and some farm buildings. The Grade I listed church building, also dedicated to St Pinnock, stands on the east side of "The Square" an open area used for parking in the centre of the hamlet . A lychgate provides entry into the churchyard. The building consists of a 14th century west tower, 15th century nave and north aisle and a 16th century porch. It was restored by Hine and Odgers of Plymouth in 1881-2. The building is in the Perpendicular style and constructed of rubble stone with granite dressings. The roofs are covered with slate and clay ridge tiles. Internally, there are timber waggon roofs to the nave and chancel and the fixtures and fittings date mainly from the 19th century restoration. There is no stained glass. 3. Declared closed for regular public worship in February 2017, the Church’s future had been under consideration for many years with closure being considered in the early 1990s and in 2005. However, local opposition to closure resulted in renewed efforts to sustain a congregation at those times. However, by 2016, the two remaining members of the parochial church council indicted they could no longer continue and in the absence of other volunteers, they petitioned for the church to close. Upon closure of the church in 2017, the parish was incorporated into Liskeard. The building was marketed from December 2018 to May 2019, resulting in the current proposal. 4. The proposed purchaser intends to use the property principally as a Forest School, being a Learning Outside the Classroom location. The proposed purchaser is "Support for Learning Cornwall CIC" (company registration number 12039939) whose aims are to encourage children to be close to nature and to support those who would benefit from community and environmental programmes. The building would be used to host workshops and events for school, college and university groups, home-school partnerships, members of the local community and other groups such as scouts and guides. 5. Attached are: Annex A Background to the case; Annex B The report on the church building by the Church Buildings Council Annex C The advice of the Statutory Advisory Committee; 3 Annex D A copy of the draft Scheme and accompanying note which includes a site plan; Annex E An amended plan excluding one grave and suggested as an editorial amendment to the scheme should the Commissioners agree that it may proceed. Annex F A copy of the letter referring the representations to the Bishop together with a copy of his reply including the proposal document from the prospective purchaser; Annex G A Confidential Annex of financial information (circulated to Members only); Annex R A copy of the representations; and Annex S Supplementary Comments. Representations Received 6. Following the publication of the draft Scheme in February 2020 the Commissioners received 20 representations (six against, four letters of comment and ten letters in favour. The Representations against come from: • Doug Mills • Clare Knapman • Debbie Smith & Steve Richards • Lucinda Curtis • Lorraine Webber • St Pinnock Parish Council The Letters of Comment come from: • Angela Whitehead • J E Bance • Catherine Gaskain • Catherine Marlow, Historic England The Representation in Favour come from: • Lucy Williamson • Robert Kelly • Mike heard • Giles Merrifield • Vanessa Greenaway • Yve Metcalf • Carline and John Harrison • Brian Jewell • Charlotte Hill 4 • Rob Stevenson Copies of the representations are attached at Annex R. Summary of the Representations Against 7. Doug Mills raises concerns at the proposed financing of the project and the lack of secured grant funding casting doubt on the achievability and viability of the project. He also questions the lack of outside green space and the notes the absence of parking facilities in the square. 8. He also expresses disappointment that the building is said not to be of a quality to consider vesting in the Churches Conservation Trust and argues that residential conversion should be considered as the next best option. 9. Clare Knapman questions the use of a Forrest School as the principal objective of the proposal, stating that the church and its environs are entirely unsuitable for Forest School activities. She also raises concerns about the location of the project and argues that this is wholly unsuited to the level of activity proposed given the isolated nature of the building the difficulty of access down narrow lanes and the lack of designated parking with the land available in the village already used at full capacity by residents 10. She further raises significant concerns about the financing of the proposals and the lack of financial evidence available and suggests that the Parish Council should have sight of any business plan evidencing the viability, in assessing the proposals. 11. She suggests that the proposed use would be better accommodated at a neighbouring village through a collaborative use of existing hall facilities and also argues that, if the building cannot be preserved, than marketing for residential conversion should be considered instead. 12. Debbie Smith and Steve Richards raise concerns about the impact of additional vehicles in the village, noting that parking can already often be problematic without factoring in more vehicles that visitors would block or impede required access by the farm adjacent to the church. They also raise a concern that additional vehicles will pose a safety hazard. 13. They remain unconvinced that grant funding required would be used to improve and maintain the building so as to deliver the project. 14. Overall they feel that the proposed scheme will have a significant negative impact on the local residents in this quite hamlet and will not deliver the promises made. 15. Lucinda Curtis raises concerns over increased parking and the protection of her neighbouring property due to the increased visitors to the church.