The vicar and churchwardens were granted a faculty authorising the installation of a new gas-fuelled heating system in their church. An initial petition was withdrawn following opposition by a member of the Parochial Church Council (PCC) who had missed the meeting that approved the decision to apply for a faculty for the heating. The matter was then considered at a second PCC meeting, where the objector was given the opportunity to present his case as to the inefficiency of the gas-fuelled system and its failure to comply with targets to reduce the church's carbon footprint, citing the archbishop's commitment to the reduction of carbon emissions. The PCC voted unanimously, with the exception of the objector, to pursue the gas-fuelled system and accordingly a second petition was presented and opposed by the same objector. The chancellor found that the gas-fuelled system was preferable on the grounds of costs and convenience of installation. The objector had not provided adequate evidence to support his arguments for an alternative system, and arguments about future costs could not be substantiated because of fuel-price volatility. The PCC and the Diocesan Advisory Committee all supported the gas-fuelled scheme and had conducted sufficient and appropriate consultation. [Catherine Shelley]
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