Conference looks at future of historic Catholic churches

Brentwood Cathedral

Bishop Thomas McMahon, Chair of the Patrimony Committee of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, welcomed more than 80 delegates to the HCC Conference 2011 at Brentwood Cathedral last week. The venue was particularly appropriate as the Bishop, is retiring this year. Coincidentally, his Cathedral is 20 years old this month.

Attendees included members of HCCs, diocesan architects and surveyors, and representatives from bodies such as English Heritage, the Historic Chapels Trust, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Scottish Heritage and Arts Commission. They focused on a conference theme of Shut down or open up? The future of Catholic church buildings.

While many people are now aware of the significant Catholic architectural heritage that exists in this country, demographic changes have meant that some dioceses have had to face the difficult issue of closing some churches. The conference brought together a number of speakers including Carol Lawrence, Financial Secretary of Shrewsbury Diocese who reflected on pastoral review, and examined how Canon Law can mesh with current planning legislation and conservation policy.

Delegates heard a number of case studies and from conservation expert Paul Drury about why historic church buildings are important and why potential closure can be an issue for the wider community.

“Closure can be the beginning of other problems, particularly if a building is listed,” said Sophie Andreae, Vice Chair of the Patrimony Committee. “What do you with the building afterwards? Precipitate closure is not advisable. We have to explore all the options and consult widely with all stakeholders before closing churches.”

She added: “Our purpose at the conference was to look at case studies on closure and how to get them right. The picture is not necessarily bleak. There have been cases where churches in poor structural condition have been closed but have subsequently reopened following input from grant giving bodies, the laity and the wider community. Only a month ago the highly unusual Grade II* listed church of Our Lady Star of the Sea at Amlwch on Anglesey reopened having been considered a few years ago to be beyond economic repair.”

With the 20th anniversary of the Cathedral at Brentwood on the horizon (31st May), the conference also heard about its background and design. Bishop Thomas spoke on 'How the Project Evolved', while architect Quinlan Terry gave insights on 'Designing the New Cathedral'.

After lunch, the delegates toured the Cathedral with Bishop Thomas and Quinlan Terry, before visiting Ingatestone Hall, the home of Lord Petre. The Petre family donated the land on which the Cathedral stands and built the first church on the site in 1837, which is now the Parish Hall and the building in which the conference took place.

Bishop Thomas has been Chair of the Patrimony Committee for many years and has made an enormous contribution to raising the profile of Catholic art and architecture. He is retiring this year. “This was an outstanding conference,” he said. “We were addressing a very important subject – the use of redundant churches – and we heard some very interesting presentations and reflections on that subject. Vespers by the full Cathedral Choir the night before and the presentation of the Papal Dame of St Gregory award to Sophie Andreae made the event even more memorable.”