Architecture watchdog disrupts church sale

BY ED WEST
PLANS BY THE Diocese of Leeds to close down a Yorkshire church have been put in jeopardy after English Heritage listed the building.
The diocese shut down the Holy Family Church in Chequerfield, near Pontefract, last month and had hoped to sell off the building to developers. But last week the nation's architecture watchdog made it a listed building, meaning that the building cannot be demolished without Leeds Bishop Arthur Roche and the diocese going through an expensive planning procedure.
The church's closure came despite widespread protests by parishioners who denied the diocese's claim that the congregation was dwindling. But the diocese's plans were hampered after one of the congregation called in English Heritage. After carrying out inspections they put a Grade II listing on the building.
Now it cannot be demolished or even adapted without going through planning controls, which will severely limit interest in the site among developers.
It is one of seven Leeds diocese churches in the process of being closed down. Last month locals joined parishioners from St John the Evangelist in Allerton Bywater and Our Lady of Lourdes in Ackworth in marching on Flinsley Hall, home of the bishop, delivering documents which accused him of a "gross violation" of Canon Law in suppressing their parishes and comparing their protest to the Pilgrimage of Grace, a rebellion by Yorkshire Catholics against Henry VIII.
Leeds vicar-general Mgr Michael McQuinn had blamed the closure on the decline in the number of priests and said the diocese intended to sell the building. However, parishioners were also upset at the way they claim they were treated by Mgr McQuirm and Bishop Roche, saying that diocesan officials had either been rude in dealing with parishioners or had simply ignored them.
The parishioners also say the interior of the church has already been partially stripped like other churches across the country before their closure was legally approved with the pews being sent to a church in Skipton.
Now the 200-strong congregation hopes the move by English Heritage will convince Bishop Roche to change his mind.
Parishioner Kathleen Kidd said: "It has been heartbreaking to see our church standing there and not being able to hear Mass in it. We have no mortgage on the building, no debts. We had the offer of a priest from Poland, so we really cannot see any reason why it should close.
"If the church stays closed and they cannot sell it, the diocese will be left with quite a large bill for maintenance. It will become a white elephant. If it stays open they will actually have money coming in."
The parishioners have launched an appeal under Canon Law against the closure, and are preparing to lobby Rome.
The church only dates from 1964 but was designed by Derek Walker, considered one of Britain's best architects of the 20th century. He was also involved in creating Milton Keynes, and built the Royal Armouries in Leeds. It is the last of a trio of churches designed by Walker, the other two being St Benedict's in Gat-forth, which is now demolished, and Sacred Heart in Hyde Park Road, Leeds, which is now a mosque.
The Holy Family was the first in the area built to accomodate modern liturgical practices and boasts key design features. including a noteable stained-glass window. It was in keeping with the Second Vatican Council and features a free-standing Portland Stone altar, intended to bring the priest closer to the people, and ceramics by artist Robert Btumby.
English Heritage said it had listed Holy Family because of its "nationally sh nificant architect, its design and high-quality features".
Mr Derek Walker said: "The church is in the middle of a very close-knit community and remains a focal point for them. It is very disappointing that it will close. I have written to the Bishop of Leeds asking him to reconsider, but had no response."
Architectural historian Paul Walker said the Holy Family was "a very strong statement architecturally. Its layout challenged traditional notions of how a church was thought of. It should certainly be listed."
Bishop Roche has 30 days to respond to the parishioners' appeal. If they are not satisfied, they can then take their case further.
The diocese's property administrator David Damant said the sale of the church was proceeding but admitted it might attract a lower bid.
He said: "If a building is listed, the owners do have a right of appeal. The property would be harder to sell by virtue of being listed, and if it listed and if it is sold it will reduced in value by virtue of that. Whether the diocese will choose to appeal is a decision of the board of directors of Leeds diocese."