SUMMARY OF MAIN PROVISIONS OF DRAFT SCHEME (NOT PART OF THE DRAFT
SCHEME)
This draft Scheme provides for:
 the union of the benefice of Cheddleton and the benefice of Horton, Longsdon and Rushton
Spencer (their constituent parishes to remain distinct) in the diocese of Lichfield;
 the appointment of the first incumbent of the new benefice;
 her parsonage house to be that of the benefice of Cheddleton;
 the disposal of the parsonage house of the benefice of Horton, Longsdon and Rushton Spencer;
and
 the future patronage arrangements for the new benefice.
DRAFT
PASTORAL SCHEME
This Scheme is made by the Church Commissioners this
day of
201 in pursuance of the Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011 (“the 2011 Measure”), the Right
Reverend Jonathan, Bishop of Lichfield, having consented thereto.
Union of benefices
1.
The benefice of Cheddleton and the benefice of Horton, Longsdon and Rushton
Spencer in the diocese of Lichfield shall be united to create a new benefice which shall be
named "The Benefice of Cheddleton, Horton, Longsdon and Rushton Spencer" and the area
of the new benefice shall comprise the parish of Cheddleton, the parish of Horton, the parish
of Longsdon and the parish of Rushton Spencer, which parishes shall continue distinct.
Archdeaconry and deanery
2.
The new benefice and its constituent parishes shall belong to the archdeaconry of
Stoke-upon-Trent and the deanery of Leek.
Designation of first incumbent
3.
If immediately before this Scheme comes into operation the Reverend Amanda Shirley
Gail Pike is licensed by the Bishop to serve within the area of either of the benefices referred to
in clause 1 hereof she shall be the first incumbent of the new benefice.
Joint parochial church council
4.
The Bishop may by Instrument under his hand, with the concurrence of the
incumbent, make provision (a)
for establishing a joint parochial church council for all or some of the parishes
of the new benefice;
(b)
for the chairmanship, meetings and procedure of that council;
(c)
for the functions of the parochial church council of any such parish which must
or may be delegated to the joint parochial church council;
being provisions to the same effect as those which may be made by a Scheme under the Church
Representation Rules in the like case.
Place of residence
5.
The parsonage house of the benefice of Cheddleton (known as The Vicarage, Hollow
Lane, Cheddleton, Leek, ST13 7HP) shall be the place of residence of the incumbent of the
new benefice.
Disposal of parsonage house
6.
The parsonage house of the benefice of Horton, Longsdon and Rushton Spencer
(known as The Vicarage, Leek Road, Longsdon, Stoke-on-Trent, ST9 9QF), together with the
site and appurtenances thereof and the grounds usually occupied and enjoyed therewith, shall
without any conveyance or other assurance be transferred to the Lichfield Diocesan Board of
Finance for disposal in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 8 of Schedule 3 to the
2011 Measure.
Patronage
7.
Subject to clause 3 hereof, the right of presentation to the new benefice shall on each
occasion be exercised jointly by the Bishop of Lichfield in his corporate capacity and the
incumbent of the benefice of Leek and Meerbrook in his corporate capacity.
Coming into operation of this Scheme
8
If upon the date on which this Scheme is made no person, other than the person
referred to in clause 3 hereof, holds an ecclesiastical office under Common Tenure in any
benefice which will be dissolved by this Scheme, this Scheme shall come into operation on the
first day of the month following the said date; but if on the said date any person, other than
the person referred to in clause 3 hereof, holds such an office this Scheme shall come into
effect six months thereafter or such earlier date on which all such offices have been vacated.
In witness whereof the Church Commissioners have caused their Common Seal to be
hereunto affixed.
SIGNED by the
)
)
)
)
)
Right Reverend Jonathan,
Bishop of Lichfield.
Executed as a Deed by the affixing of the
Common Seal of the Church
Commissioners in the presence of:-
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AUTHENTICATING OFFICER
_________________________________________________________________________
Notes by the Diocesan office (not forming part of the draft Scheme)
The rationale behind the diocesan proposals is as follows:
The aim of the diocese of Lichfield is that parishes are free to grow. The Bishop aims to
make appointments of stipendiary clergy that are affordable and sustainable for the future.
On this basis, it is proposed that the benefice of Horton, Longsdon and Rushton Spencer
be joined with the benefice of Cheddleton (there will be three Church schools in this new
benefice) to become one new benefice served by one full time priest.
Publication of this draft Scheme has been approved by the Church Commissioners but does
not mean that they have taken a view on the merits of the diocesan case.
If they receive representations against the draft Scheme, they will send all representations,
both for and against, to the Bishop and ask for his views. Individual representors will then
receive copies of their correspondence with the Bishop (including copies of all the
representations) and they may comment further in writing to the Commissioners on the
issues raised in their original letter in light of the diocesan response if they so wish.
If there are no representations against the draft Scheme, the Commissioners will make the
Scheme and arrange for it to be brought into effect.
Coming into effect clause
1.
Under the provision of s39(3) of the Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011 it is
mandatory for a Pastoral Scheme which would have the effect of causing any
ecclesiastical office held under Common Tenure to cease to exist to include the
provision in clause 8 delaying the coming into effect of the Scheme for up to six
months after it is made. This is to give any office holder who would be dispossessed an
opportunity to find another post before the Scheme takes effect. Under the
Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Regulations 2009 where such an office holder
who is in receipt of remuneration, which includes the provision of accommodation, is
not appointed to another office he or she may become eligible for compensation.
2.
In this case, it is the Bishop’s intention to license the Reverend James Arthur Roy
Lovatt to serve in the new benefice of Cheddleton, Horton, Longsdon and Rushton
Spencer and he has therefore agreed to resign from his current office as soon as the
Scheme is made, in order to bring it into effect as soon as possible.
Churches etc
3.
This Scheme does not alter the existing status of any of the churches, chapels of ease or
licensed places of worship in the affected parishes.
Joint PCC
4.
The Mission and Pastoral Measure stipulates that any provision for a joint parochial
church council shall cease to have effect not later than five years from the date on
which this Scheme comes into effect. It would, however, be possible under the Church
Representation Rules to make a similar provision for an unlimited period. The
provision for the establishment of any joint PCC under clause 4 will only every be
invoked to get the ball rolling regarding its establishment as it is hoped that any such
arrangement can be catered for under the Church Representation Rules provision,
should the PCCs wish to work together to achieve this.