The petitioners applied to amend a faculty for work to a Grade I listed thirteenth-century church to substitute Cove sandstone for Grinshill Red sandstone as the stone to be used in the works. The owner of the Grinshill quarry objected to the change of stone, arguing, inter alia, that decisions about church stone should protect small, local quarries to prevent the uniformity of larger quarries and promote social responsibility. The diocesan advisory committee and English Heritage supported the change to Cove sandstone. The chancellor held that stone to be used on buildings must be appropriate. Inappropriate stone could not be used, regardless of cost. However, moral considerations of protecting smaller quarries were irrelevant. Parochial church councils (PCCs) could not be compelled to use more expensive stone. On the facts he found that Cove sandstone was an appropriate stone for Great Ness. However, as there was new information available about weathering, suitability and Grinshill quarry's offer to reduce the price, the faculty would be amended to allow for the use of either Cove or Grinshill sandstone at the PCC's discretion. [Catherine Shelley]
No CrossRef data available.