The churchwarden petitioned for a faculty permitting the disposal of a redundant wooden lectern. An inscription on the lectern shows that it was given to the church in 1926 by Miss Mary Haslam as a memorial to her brother, the Revd John Haslam. Internet and other research by the chancellor showed that John Haslam had not served in this parish, but that Mary Haslam was a significant and generous benefactor to the area and the town of Preston in the early twentieth century. The chancellor accepted the advice of the Church Buildings Council that the lectern was not a church treasure but was nevertheless of interest. There was no need for a hearing in this case.

On the basis that the justification for the disposal was simply that the lectern was no longer in use and that its disposal would free up limited space within the church, the chancellor dismissed the petition. There was little to be gained from the disposal and there was a real link between the parish and the donor of the lectern, who was an important person in the town. If the parish could demonstrate that the lectern would be disposed of to a parish in which John Haslam had served then he would be willing to grant a faculty for such disposal. A period of nine months was given for the parish to consider this possibility. [RA]