SUMMARY OF MAIN PROVISIONS OF DRAFT SCHEME (NOT PART OF
THE DRAFT SCHEME)
This draft Scheme provides for:
 altering the areas of the parishes of Saint Silas, Blackburn;
Blackburn Christ the King; and Saint Barnabas Blackburn;
 the creation of a new benefice of Saint Francis, Feniscliffe; and
for the future patronage arrangements for the new benefice;
 the creation of a new benefice of Saint Aidan, Blackburn and its
immediate union with the benefice of Blackburn Christ the King
to create a new benefice of Blackburn Saint Aidan and Blackburn
Saint Luke, St Mark and St Philip; and for
o the appointment of the first incumbent of the new
benefice;
o her place of residence; and
o the future patronage arrangements for the new benefice;
 changing the name of the parish of Blackburn Christ the King to
“The Parish of Blackburn Saint Luke, Saint Mark and Saint
Philip”;
 the disposal of the parsonage house of the benefice of Blackburn
Christ the King; and for
 the church of Saint Mark Witton to be closed for regular public
worship;
all within the diocese of Blackburn.
DRAFT
PASTORAL CHURCH BUILDING SCHEME
This Scheme is made by the Church Commissioners (“the
Commissioners”) this
day of
201 in pursuance of
the Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011 (“the 2011 Measure”), the Right
Reverend Julian, Bishop of Blackburn, having consented thereto.
PART I
Alteration of areas of parishes
1.
(1)
All that part of the parish of Blackburn Christ the King which
is stippled and lettered "A" on the annexed map shall be transferred to
the parish of Saint Silas, Blackburn.
(2) All that part of the parish of Blackburn Christ the King which
is stippled and lettered "B" on the annexed map shall be transferred to
the parish of Saint Barnabas Blackburn.
Dissolution of benefice
2.
The benefice of Blackburn Saint Francis and Saint Aidan shall be
dissolved.
Creation of new benefice of Saint Francis, Feniscliffe
3.
(1)
A new benefice which shall be named "The Benefice of Saint
Francis, Feniscliffe" shall be created in the diocese of Blackburn, and the
area of the new benefice shall comprise the parish of Saint Francis,
Feniscliffe.
(2) The new benefice and its constituent parish shall belong to
the archdeaconry of Blackburn and the deanery of Blackburn with
Darwen.
(3) The patronage of the new benefice shall be vested in the
Bishop of Blackburn in his corporate capacity.
Creation of new benefice of Saint Aidan, Blackburn
4.
(1)
A new benefice which shall be named "The Benefice of Saint
Aidan, Blackburn" shall be created in the diocese of Blackburn, and the
area of the new benefice shall comprise the parish of Saint Aidan,
Blackburn.
(2) The new benefice and its constituent parish shall belong to
the archdeaconry of Blackburn and the deanery of Blackburn with
Darwen.
(3) The patronage of the new benefice shall be vested in the
Bishop of Blackburn in his corporate capacity.
Creation of new benefice of Blackburn Saint Aidan and Blackburn
Saint Luke, Saint Mark and Saint Philip
5.
(1)
The new benefice of Saint Aidan, Blackburn created pursuant
to clause 4(1) hereof and the benefice of Blackburn Christ the King in the
diocese of Blackburn shall be united to create a new benefice which shall
be named "The Benefice of Blackburn Saint Aidan and Blackburn Saint
Luke, Saint Mark and Saint Philip", and the area of the new benefice
shall, subject to clause 1(1) and clause 1(2) hereof, comprise the parish of
Blackburn Christ the King (the name of which shall be altered to “The
Parish of Blackburn Saint Luke, Saint Mark and Saint Philip”) and the
parish of Saint Aidan, Blackburn, which parishes shall continue distinct.
(2) The new benefice and its constituent parishes shall belong to
the archdeaconry of Blackburn and the deanery of Blackburn with
Darwen.
(3) If immediately before this Scheme comes into operation the
Reverend Catherine Elizabeth Brooks is licensed by the Bishop to serve
within the area of either of the benefices of Blackburn Christ the King; or
Blackburn Saint Francis and Saint Aidan she shall be the first incumbent
of the new benefice.
(4) The parsonage house of the benefice of Blackburn Saint
Francis and Saint Aidan (known as Saint Aidan’s Vicarage, 170 Saint
Aidan’s Avenue, Blackburn, BB2 4EA) shall be the place of residence of
the incumbent of the new benefice.
(5) The parsonage house of the benefice of Blackburn Christ the
King (known as Saint Mark’s Vicarage, Buncer Lane, Witton, Blackburn,
BB2 6SY) 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 Blackburn Diocesan
Board of Finance for disposal in accordance with the provisions of
paragraph 8 of Schedule 3 to the 2011 Measure.
(6) Subject to clause 5(3) hereof, the right of presentation to the
new benefice shall on each occasion be exercised jointly by the Bishop of
Blackburn in his corporate capacity and the incumbent of the benefice of
Saint Mary the Virgin and Saint Paul, Blackburn in his corporate capacity.
PART II
Declaration of closure for regular public worship
6.
(1)
The church of Saint Mark, Witton, being one of the parish
churches of the parish of Blackburn Christ the King in the diocese of
Blackburn, shall be declared closed for regular public worship by this
Scheme.
(2) The marriage register books appertaining to the said church
shall be dealt with in accordance with section 62 of the Marriage Act
1949 and, subject to any provisions of the Parochial Registers and
Records Measure 1978 that apply thereto and any directions thereunder,
any other register books and records of that church which remain in
parochial custody shall be dealt with as the Bishop shall direct.
PART III
Coming into operation of this Scheme
7.
(1)
If upon the date on which this Scheme is made no person,
other than the person referred to in clause 5(3) hereof, holds an
ecclesiastical office under Common Tenure in any benefice which will be
dissolved by this Scheme, Part I of 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 5(3) hereof,
holds such an office this Scheme shall come into effect six months
thereafter or on such earlier date on which all such offices have been
vacated.
(2) Part II of this Scheme shall come into operation upon such
date as the Commissioners, after consultation with the Bishop, shall
determine.
(3) Part III of this Scheme shall come into operation upon the
date on which it is made by the Commissioners.
In witness whereof the Church Commissioners have caused their
Common Seal to be hereunto affixed.
SIGNED by the
Right Reverend Julian,
)
)
)
)
Bishop of Blackburn.
)
Executed as a Deed by the affixing of the
)
Common Seal of the Church
)
)
Commissioners in the presence of:)
)
AUTHENTICATING OFFICER
________________________________________________________________
___________
Note by the Church Commissioners’ office (not forming part of the
draft Scheme)
The Commissioners have been told by the Bishop on the advice of his
Diocesan Mission and Pastoral Committee that the rationale behind the
diocesan proposals is as follows:
The PCCs, in consultation with the Archdeacon of Blackburn, believe
that the closure for worship of Witton St Mark and reorganisation of
the parishes and their boundaries will enable more effective mission
and ministry in this area of Blackburn.
Publication of this draft Scheme by the Commissioners does not mean
that we have taken a view on the merits of the diocesan case. We have a
duty to publish draft Schemes based on diocesan proposals.
If we receive representations against the draft Scheme, we will send all
representations, both for and against, to the Bishop and ask for his
views. Individual representors will then receive copies of our
correspondence with the Bishop (including copies of all the
representations) and they may comment further in writing to us in light
of the diocesan response if they so wish.
If there are no representations against the draft Scheme, we will make
the Scheme and arrange for it to be brought into effect.
The new benefice of Saint Francis, Feniscliffe
1.
It is the diocesan intention that presentation to this new benefice
will be suspended due to possible further pastoral reorganisation. The
draft proposals had provided for the new benefice of Saint Francis,
Feniscliffe to be united with the benefice of Emmanuel Feniscowles;
however, following discussions with the PCC of Emmanuel Feniscowles it
was decided that further time was needed to discuss the possibility of a
union and this draft Scheme reflects their request for further dialogue.
Coming into effect clause
2.
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 7(1) 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. In this case, it is the Bishop’s intention to
license the Reverend David John Roscsoe to serve in the new benefice of
Saint Francis, Feniscliffe as its priest-in-charge 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.
The church of St Mark, Witton
3.
This Scheme, if implemented, would have the effect of closing the
church of Saint Mark, Witton for public worship and vesting it in the
Blackburn Diocesan Board of Finance for care and maintenance pending a
decision on its future. Any such decision would be the subject of a second
Scheme, called a Pastoral (Church Buildings Disposal) Scheme, which
would be prepared and published by the Church Commissioners, and with
regard to which an opportunity would be given for representations to be
made. In terms of implementing this Pastoral Church Buildings Scheme
subject to the consideration of any representations, the Commissioners
will need to be satisfied that all aspects of title relating to the church,
including access and any rights of way, are in order before they make the
Scheme. Banns of marriage may not be called nor marriages solemnized
in the church from the date of closure.
Status of other churches etc
4.
This Scheme does not alter the existing status of any of the other
churches, chapels of ease or licensed places of worship in the affected
parishes.