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Re St Oswald, Walcott

Lincoln Consistory Court: Bishop Ch, September 2009 Sale of bible – good and sufficient reason

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 April 2010

Ruth Arlow
Affiliation:
Barrister, Deputy Chancellor of the Dioceses of Chichester and Norwich
Will Adam
Affiliation:
Rector of Girton, Ely Diocesan Ecumenical Officer
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Abstract

Type
Case Notes
Copyright
Copyright © Ecclesiastical Law Society 2010

The vicar and churchwardens sought a faculty for the sale of a 1611 bible which had long-standing links with parish. The bible had been kept in the church, was in poor condition and was deteriorating. It was proposed that if it were not sold the bible should be kept in the cathedral library where it could be preserved. The petitioners wished to apply half the proceeds of sale to the repair and replacement of lead lights in the church and half to facilitate the mission of God in the parish and overseas. The chancellor considered the decisions of Re St Gregory, Tredington [1972] Fam 236 and Re St Peter, Draycott (2009) 11 Ecc LJ 365. The chancellor considered that the burden of proof on the petitioners to show a good and sufficient reason for the sale of the bible was towards the lower end of the scale but nevertheless he refused the petition. The chancellor expressed concern that if such a reason were readily found then parishes would come under great pressure to part with valuable items. There was no financial emergency and the PCC's laudable desire to support missionary work could not amount to a good and sufficient reason in the circumstances. [RA]