Supporting Documentation Bollington St Oswald – Aumbry, stained glass and plaque

Note to parish

This bundle includes all the supporting documentation to your faculty application as required

under Rule 5.5 of the Faculty Jurisdiction Rules 2015.

List of documentation

Item Description Page

Overview

1 Statement of Needs dated 25 February 2019 2

2 Statement of Significance dated August 2018 4

3 Schedule of Works or Proposals from the Petition for Faculty dated 30 July 2019 8

Proposals

4 Photographs of items in situ uploaded 30 July 2019 9

5 Further photographs of proposed aumbry location received 9 October and 5

December 2019

14

Correspondence

6 Email correspondence between DAC office and parish dating from 26 September

2019 to 2 June 2020

19

Consultation

7 Comments of the Church Buildings Council dated 20 March 2020 34

PCC Minute

8 PCC Minute dated 29 July 2019 35

__________________________________________

Caroline Hilton, DAC Secretary 3 July 2020

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Statement of NeedsGeneral information

In addition to our weekly Sunday morning and mid-week Eucharists, and our monthly First Sunday Family Worship Services, our church building is presently used on a regular basis for:

Praise and Play Parent and Toddler Group on Tuesday mornings in term-time

RiCH Youth Group for Years 7 to 9 after school on Thursday afternoons in term-time

Open Recorder Group on Friday afternoons

Choir Practices and Church Orchestra Rehearsals on Thursday evenings

Faith Hour: informal discussion and prayer meetings on Wednesday afternoons

#quietspace: the church is open to visitors during daylight hours on Wednesdays all year round for private prayer and quiet reflection (self-service refreshments are available)

Beyond these weekly commitments, on a regular basis we have the "occasional offices" such as Funerals, Baptisms and Weddings, All Souls' Day Services, Lent Groups and Lent Charity Lunches, monthly Mothers' Union meetings, occasional Choral Evensong and Taize services, PCC meetings and regular Growth Action Planning meetings. The Church also hosts an Annual Pet Blessing Service, occasional Deanery Synod and Diocesan Cursillo meetings, Bollington Festival Choir Concerts, Maundy Thursday Agape Meals and Watch of Prayer, Good Friday Children's Trail, numerous Christmas events including popular Christingle and Crib Services, Family Fun Days and Sunday Afternoon Tea events in the summer holidays and a variety of different charity Fundraising activities. We provide Teaching Opportunities for schools and uniformed groups, our Annual Biblically-themed Schools' Experience Weeks offered to all our local primary schools, and Bollington Cross School's PTA regularly offer refreshments prior to events such as their annual Reception Class welcome services, Harvest Festivals and Christmas Plays. We also take an active part hosting a variety of creative exhibitions and cultural events during the Bollington Festival which takes place over three consecutive weeks every four years (the next one is in May 2019).

What is needed?

MacclesfieldArchdeaconry:

2019-031602Ref:

Created By:

Status: Awaiting DAC processing

Contact Tel.: 01625 575589Mrs Christine Osbaldiston (25/02/2019)

ChesterDiocese:

Church: Bollington Cross: St Oswald

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Holy Trinity Church closed in 2009, the stained glass panel was donated by the new owner. The money for the new porch and extension at St Oswalds, completed 2012, was raised entirely form the sale of Holy Trinity Church and installing the panel will be an appropriate reminder of that small church community and its contribution to the life of the parish.

St Johns Church closed in 2003, various artefacts were dispersed with Bishop Peters permission. Installing this commemorative plaque will honour the example of faithful lay ministry in the parish.

The framed print (an icon of St Oswald) was purchased to commemorate the church's 110th birthday in October 2018.

The former parish church of St John the Baptist contained an ambry, which was a rudimentary wooden box set into the wall of the lady chapel. The PCC has considered over time the purchase and installation of an ambry for use at St Oswalds and has now agreed to accept this generous gift which will enhance our worship and ministry in the parish and enable the administration of the sacrament to the housebound.

The mosaic lettering echoes the colours of our external mosaic installed in May 2014 and will emphasise our hospitality to the community.

The proposal

Already stated in section 2. See PCC resolution as attached.

Why?

See PCC resolution as attached

Justification

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Parish of Bollington 1502: St Oswald’s Church Statement of Significance – August 2018

Basic facts Parish: Bollington (1502) Dedication: St Oswald Benefice: Patron: The Vicar of Prestbury Diocese: Chester Address: Bollington Road, Bollington, Macclesfield, Cheshire,

SK10 5EG. Local Planning Authority: Cheshire East Borough (Unitary) Council County: Cheshire Statutory Listing of church: Grade 2 Listed Statutory designation for structures and objects within churchyard: None Conservation Area: Bollington Cross Conservation Area Scheduled Monument: None Tree Preservation Orders: None Protected Species: None County Wildlife Site (or equivalent, or SSSI): Not Applicable Any other designations: None

Section 1: Brief history and description of the church building, contents, churchyard and setting

1.1: Setting of the Church The Church is located in the Bollington Cross Conservation Area which is the smallest of the four Conservation Areas in Bollington. The Conservation Area also contains the immediately adjacent Bollington Cross School {which is a Church of England (Controlled) Primary School}, the Cock and Pheasant Inn and a number of stone-built houses. Both the Church and the School are built of stone. The Church is effectively surrounded by the School and its grounds and its location is such that there are no long range views of the Church – the near views are certainly valued by the congregation and local community. There are no archaeological remains. There are no monuments but there are two War Memorial tablets inside the Church commemorating the names of local persons who did not return from the World Wars. The boundary at the front and down part of the side is marked by a low level stone wall; the remaining boundaries are marked by fences. The PCC has a contractual agreement with the School for the use of their car park at weekends and on other agreed occasions outside school hours.

1.2: The living churchyard There is no churchyard as such associated with St Oswald’s Church. There is a churchyard next to the now redundant St. John the Baptist Church building at the other end of the Town, but this is closed to new burials other than in existing family graves. There is also a Columbarium originally created in 1958 within the churchyard, specifically for interment of cremated remains: this area was modified and enlarged under faculty in the autumn of 2011.

1.3: Social History The Church was built in 1908 to serve the Bollington Cross end of the Town and for many years was complementary to St John the Baptist Church (which was built as the Parish Church in 1834) and Holy Trinity Mission Church, Kerridge (1898). With the closure of the latter two Churches (in 2003 and 2009 respectively), St Oswald’s is now the only Anglican Church in the parish and is designated as the Parish Church of Bollington.

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1.4: The church building in general St Oswald's Church was consecrated by the Bishop of Chester on 22 October 1908. It was constructed to a design by the architect Mr Frank P Oakley of Manchester, who was responsible for several churches in south Lancashire. The land on which it was built was donated by Mr Herbert Greg, a member of the mill-owning family, and the money for building was raised mainly by voluntary subscriptions.

1.5: The church building in detail The exterior is constructed of local Kerridge stone and the interior work and window tracery are in Hollington (Staffordshire) stone, with Accrington brick in the interior walls. The style is ‘Perpendicular’ and the internal design reflects the Arts and Crafts movement. It has a red tiled roof that was extensively repaired in 2006. There is a small bell tower with a single bell having the inscription ‘Fonderia veneziana fratelli pin and comp. 19 Novembre 1887’. In 2012 a significant addition was made at the NW corner of the Church which involved taking down the former side porch and construction of the new entrance providing disabled access direct from the adjacent School car park. On the advice of the DAC, the existing porch stonework was preserved and used as a façade on the end of the new external block. The resulting extension (with new glazed main entrance and improved toilet facilities) was further enhanced in May 2014 by the addition of an impressive Community Mosaic consecrated during the Bollington Festival by the Bishop of Chester, who laid the final piece of tessarae!

1.6: Contents of the Church In the original construction, the lectern and other furniture are understood to have been transferred from the old Church, which was previously part of the now adjacent Bollington Cross Church School, built in 1845. The stained glass window in the vestry was also transferred into the new St Oswald's Church from the east light of the old School, the window having been a gift of Francis P Greg. The Foundation Stone is situated under the west window-sill but due to its height and subsequent discolouration its inscription is not very visible from the floor. The choir stalls located in the chancel were made to special designs by the Architect. The chancel floor was constructed of vitrified glazed mosaic. A two manual pipe organ and a hot water heating system were also installed at this time – the present organ was installed in the 1960’s and its bellows were completely refurbished in 2016.

The font is located in the Baptistery at the rear of the Church – it is not mentioned in the original description of the Church, but its appearance is very similar to fonts in other churches designed by Frank Oakley. Stained glass windows were added to the Baptistery in 1911. The stained glass window on the north wall at the rear of the nave was installed in memory of Sydney Hammond Marsland of Endon Hall, who was killed in action at Suvla Bay in August 1915.

A small kitchenette and single accessible toilet were installed in 1999, which necessitated the re-siting of the memorial to the Revd. Frederick Richardson onto the north wall. Although those basic facilities were then a welcome addition, they have subsequently proved to be inadequate for the increasing numbers using what is now the Parish Church and for further anticipated growth in future years. This prompted the building of the new NW extension in 2012, housing three new toilets, and it is hoped that the present scheme (to remove the 1999 pod altogether) will both restore the symmetry and light afforded by the original 1908 design at the west end of the nave, and also enhance our provision of hospitality with a larger and better equipped kitchen to be built within the redundant SW entrance porch. We will also be able to resume more frequent use of the fixed font in the Baptistery which is presently overshadowed and visually inhibited by the 1999 kitchenette and former toilet pod.

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The 1907 carved altar (together with the War Memorial) was transferred from St John the Baptist Church in 2008. At the same time, to celebrate the Centenary of St Oswald's, the wooden block floor was refurbished and the original low rush-seated chairs were replaced with 120 modern linked wooden chairs with soft furnished seats and backs. The present seating capacity is stretched to its limits when we have large congregations at special services, particularly funerals, or when the church is used for concerts or school events. Restoring flexible floor space at the west end of the nave will be a great improvement here.

Section 2: The significance of the church (including its contents and churchyard) in terms of : (i) its special architectural and historical interest (ii) any significant features of artistic or archaeological interest

2.1 Consolidation of our Anglican mission and ministry The Vicar and PCC have worked hard over the past decade or so to bring the congregation into a single community following the closures of St John’s and Holy Trinity Churches. This has been achieved very successfully. In addition to a gradually increasing congregation at St Oswald’s, we are developing a growing number of additional religious and social activities which have strengthened the life of the whole Community and deepened our spiritual life. The Church is increasingly being used for concerts, artistic performances, charity and social events. The proposed new kitchen and storage facilities will make the building even more welcoming and more suitable for the wider uses to which it is now being put.

It is important to note that St Oswald's has no separate Church Hall, nor does it own any land upon which a hall could be built in the future. As mentioned in 1.1 above, the Church building is located in the Bollington Cross Conservation Area and is effectively surrounded by Bollington Cross School and its grounds. Our location along the main thoroughfare into Bollington is such that there are no long range views of the Church – although the near views are certainly valued by the congregation and local community. The area of land within which the Church building stands is very constrained, so that any extra usable floor space can realistically only be created within the existing framework of the present building.

We value our heritage as an enduring and thriving Anglican presence here within the Deanery-wide ecumenical fellowship of HOPE in NE Cheshire established in 2009. We feel we have a unique and vibrant contribution to offer both the local Bollington Community and the wider Macclesfield Deanery, arising from our well-established, outward-looking, intergenerational, inclusive and sacramental tradition of worship and service.

2.2 Sources consulted The present scheme has been designed by our Quinquennial Architects who are fully aware of the requirements for modifications to Church architecture and they have produced a comprehensive illustrated Heritage Impact Statement (see under attached documents). Planning permission was sought from Cheshire East Council for the necessary creation of a new external Fire Exit in the SW aisle and this was granted on 19 October 2017 (ref 17/4097M) as per attached documents. (Please note however that within the Cheshire East "Conditions" document headed "Delegated Report", the reference shown under "Planning History" to permission 06/1395P in fact refers to works approved at Bollington Cross School in July 2006 and not to any alterations to the adjacent St Oswald's Church building.)

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Section 3: Assessment of the impact of the proposals on the significance defined in Section 2

It is envisaged that the present proposals will:

Restore the West End of the nave to its original symmetry of space and balance of light sources, creating more open and flexible space giving enhanced usage

Bring into more productive use the former SW main entrance porch by converting it into a much-needed, well-equipped and larger kitchen space, rather than continuing its present unsatisfactory use as a somewhat cluttered storage area constantly in danger of obstructing safe congregational exit in the event of a fire

Provide attractive purpose-built storage cupboards along each of the walls adjacent to the Baptistery at the West End of the nave, in which to neatly house inter-alia our additional folding tables and chairs, and various items of essential cleaning and flower-arranging equipment, plus the re-sited utility sink

Restore the presently partially obscured Baptistery to the visually significant focus originally intended within the life of the Church, and allow for the resumption of sacramental use of the fixed rather than portable font, whenever desirable

Open up a far more attractive vista to people as they now enter the Church building through our new glazed NW porch and afford a better reflection of our desire to demonstrate true inclusion, welcome and hospitality within the fabric of our building.

For further details, please see our Architect's Floor plans as attached: 4204 C02 and C03.

For photographs of both the internal and external views of the building, please see the attached Heritage Impact Statement file as prepared by our Architect.

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We petition the Court for a faculty to authorise the following-

Please fully and accurately state the works or other proposals for which a faculty is sought. Where relevant, include the number and date on the architect’s or surveyor’s drawings or other specifications. If it is proposed to dispose of any item details must be given.

The works or proposals must be the same as those in respect of which the Diocesan Advisory Committee has given any advice (subject to any modifications that have been made to take account of advice received – if any modifications have been made they also must be described here).

SCHEDULE OF WORKS OR PROPOSALS

Installation of Ambry to store the reserved sacrament, holy oils and consecrated ash. This to be securely fixed on the shelf behind the High Altar.Installation of brass wall plaque,18" wide x 12" high, formerly on the wall of St Johns church Bollington, commemorating John Thomas Moss Bell Major 1867-1964.Installation of a stained glass panel,19" wide x 27" high, created from spare stained glass from the windows of the former Holy Trinity Church, Kerridge. This to be fitted within the long narrow window frame in the new entrance porch on the left of the main door.Installation of a framed print, an icon of St Oswald.

All the above were discussed with our architect Mark Pearce during his visit to St Oswalds on 4th December 2018. Mark was satisfied that the proposed installations would enhance the building. However he advised that the glass panel should be enclosed in a wooden frame before inserting into the existing window frame.

Installation of mosaic letters, spelling the word "WELCOME", above the internal entrance doorway within the new porch.

For all the above please see attached PCC Resolutions document.

Copies of the Standard Information Form and any drawings, plans, specifications, photographs or other documents showing the proposals must be provided with this petition.

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SERVED THIS

1867 -1964

JOHN THOMAS MOSS B MAJOR

S A RINGER

UNDER r # CARS _

DURING THE REIGN OF SIX SOVEREIGNS

WHEN OVER 90 HE KNELT DOWN EACH WEEK

CLOSE BY THIS SPOT

WHEN MAKING HIS HOLY COMMUNION

Removed from faculty application

Welcome sign

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To .1 HE Gum of GOO N LOVING MI', MORI' OF

PERCY NOVI, r rliOm es'

....a.Acoratutz

1918 1976

CiniRcii WAR DFN

YOIJRSHV f RI' FA_

RVE THIS CHURCI F AS A RINGER

NDER TEN VILARS

XIRIN__T HE REIGN 01' SIX SOVIia

1.1:.N OVER 90 HE KNELT DOWN EAC: :

CLOSE BY THIS SPOT

MAKING HIS

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I` (ii 1')6-1

JOHN THoN4As \

Ri

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• - if,• .•11;-...11:141'-- 17 - 1 1 1 —1- ergterg

1

r 11 1...1

_ T-1 1- 7 — r 1 ..L. I_____ 1 Tra.7_4_ _...i__Li. A ___ _- 0 . 1 [ ' ' LT-

a- ..7_-_ _--- -r- r ---T i ,, i I sn 'Li I I l i -I

•,•-••:

Welcome mosaic sign removed from faculty application

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Bollington St Oswald – Aumbry, stained glass and plaque - Correspondence with parish

Strikethrough text refers to a separate faculty application

Attachments are listed according to the numbering on the supporting documents list

• Attachments in blue are included within the proposals section

• Attachments in green are included within the consultation section

• Attachments in black italics are superseded or duplicated and do not form part of the

application

Date Message

26/09/2019

To: Christine

Osbaldiston

From: Caroline Hilton

DAC advice

I write regarding the above faculty application that was considered by the

DAC at its meeting of 6 September 2019. My apologies for the delay in

the feedback reaching you on this.

The DAC wished to offer the following informal advice:

1) The Committee questioned positioning the aumbry on the altar, and

why it was not proposed to position it on the north side as would be

usual

Please can you also confirm where the icon is to be located. Is it to be at

the step to the altar as shown in the photograph you provided? (If it is to

be located in the nave/chancel area then it would need faculty permission,

but if it is to be located outside of those areas then it may possibly not

need to be included in the faculty).

The next DAC meeting is on 18 October 2019 and I can hold a place on

the agenda for this, if you can let me know your response to the two

queries above.

27/09/2019

To: Caroline Hilton

From Veronica

Hydon

File note of phone call

Veronica Hydon telephoned in response to my e-mail of 26 September,

and explained regarding the proposed position of the aumbry that it will

be behind the altar on a shelf made from the remnants of the old St

Oswald’s altar, which will serve as a convenient, almost ready made space

for the aumbry which is not a heavy item. Veronica advised that if it were

to be positioned to one side as mentioned in the DAC advice a new shelf

would have to be constructed, and it was felt that is was just easier to use

the existing shelf behind the altar.

Veronica advised she will send in a further photograph to show the

proposed aumbry position from the side, to make it clearer exactly how it

will be positioned.

With regards to the icon, Veronica advised it would be located in the

sanctuary.

09/10/2019

To: Caroline Hilton

Further to our pleasant conversation on 27 September, I am attaching a

few photos to show that the place where we are proposing to house the

aumbry is on the “shelf” behind the main altar. This “shelf” was formed in

2008 when (after faculty and Bishop Peter’s permission) the altar carved in

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From: Veronica

Hydon

With attachments

1909 and formerly in St John’s Church (Bollington’s Parish Church until its

closure in 2003) was brought into St Oswald’s. This carved altar replaced

the plainer freestanding high altar of St Oswald’s (dating from 1908) which

was carefully cut down and the front piece was re-set into the reredos out

of which it had been taken at some point years ago when westward-facing

presiding had become the preferred liturgical norm.

This re-set front third of the original altar now forms the “shelf” on which

we would like to respectfully house the new aumbry and we consider it will

look aesthetically very neat in its central position, as our previous photos I

think demonstrate, but also we have observed this is a common and

practical situation for an aumbry found in many other churches both here

and on the continent. As the attached photos now show, there is a clear

gap between the “shelf” and the main altar. Also as explained on the

phone, our sanctuary area is otherwise quite constrained, being on several

stepped levels, and to try and house the aumbry on a new shelf attached

to the north wall would severely limit our seating capacity and also would

not look as pleasing, since you would only be able to see it sideways on,

rather than getting the full benefit of the beautiful carved front doors

(shown in our previous photos sent with the application). I hope this

explanation and these extra photos give the DAC a better appreciation of

the merits of our proposal. Thank you.

With regards to the proposed positioning of the framed poster/icon of St

Oswald, we are proposing this be placed between two windows on the

north wall of the nave, above the existing memorial plaque to Percy

Thomson, with the plaque in memory of the former Bell Major then affixed

below it. (I will send a couple more photos separately in case the files

attached are too big.) I hope that clarifies things better.

Many thanks for all your kind assistance in this matter. It would be lovely

to be able to have all these various proposed items introduced into the

church by Christmas if possible

5) Three photographs of proposed aumbry location

09/10/2019

To: Caroline Hilton

From: Veronica

Hydon

With attachments

As promised, here are the other photos re the icon and the added plaque. 5) Three photographs of icon and plaque

24/10/2019

To: Veronica Hydon,

Christine

Osbaldiston, Hilary

Young

From: Caroline Hilton

DAC Advice

I am writing to let you know that at its meeting on 18 October 2019, the

DAC considered the latest details you provided regarding the above

proposals and wished to offer the following informal advice:

a) The Committee was content with the proposed position of the

icon and plaque

b) It felt that the addition of the welcome sign would not be a

positive enhancement, and that the installation of the welcome

sign was not appropriate for the fabric of the building

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c) Whilst the Committee was grateful for the further explanation and

photographs regarding the location of the aumbry, it felt that as it

was not aware of this being done elsewhere (and therefore this

positioning of the aumbry may set a precedent), more reasoning

would be required for the proposed central position of the

aumbry

d) It suggested the parish consider positioning it fixed to the east

wall, on the north side of the reredos, or alternatively position it

across the corner between the east and north wall.

e) The method of fixing of the aumbry would also need to be

provided

I do appreciate this was not the outcome you were hoping for from

Friday’s meeting. The proposals were discussed at some length, in

particular the proposed positioning of the aumbry. In its discussion of the

aumbry the Committee continued to express some reservations about the

proposed central position on the shelf, hence the request for further

reasoning and the suggestion that you reconsider the positioning as

stated in the advice at points (c) and (d) above.

The next DAC meeting is on 22 November with a closing date for

submissions on 8 November. We can pencil in a place on the agenda for

you, pending your response to the above advice.

08/11/2019

To: Veronica Hydon

From: Mark Pearce of

Kepczyk, Pearce

Sanderson

Further to my visit to your church yesterday I email to confirm that there

are four possible locations for the new ambry.

1. Within walling masonry to the north of the altar.

2. Within the wall panelling to the north of the altar.

3. Upon a fixed shelf / table to the north of the altar.

4. Upon the shelf behind the altar (gradine).

Options 1 and 2 will involving forming an opening within the wall of the

sanctuary which would be quite intrusive. Option 2 would not be

recommended as the wall panelling would also be damaged.

Option 3 is suitable but I am aware of the lack space in this area and the

several of the pieces of furniture already within the sanctuary would have

to be removed.

Option 4 would be the least intrusive in requiring only to small screw holes

to be formed within the gradine. As there is already some marking to this

surface and that I believe that the gradine was formed from a cutdown

altar from another church, I don’t believe this of great concern should the

theological considerations be appeased.

Please note that I pass my comments onto the DAC by copy to Katy Purvis.

17/11/2019

To: Caroline Hilton

From: Veronica

Hydon

Thank you for your message and for our subsequent pleasant phone

conversation in which you kindly agreed to include our application again

on the agenda for the DAC meeting on 22 November.

As discussed on the phone, we were hoping that perhaps a delegation

from the DAC might be able to visit St Oswald’s in person to discuss the

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With attachment

matter further, but the Committee’s busy diary did not allow time for this.

However on your recommendation we invited Mark Pearce, our church

architect and a member of the DAC, to meet with us again on site to

discuss with us the informal advice given at the DAC meeting on 18

October. This meeting took place on 7 November and Mark kindly emailed

Katy Purvis with his helpful comments/ recommendations the following

day, as copied below.

Owing to my presently having to deal with serious illnesses in my close

family, I have only now been able to send you our own response from St

Oswald’s to the points raised in your email of 24 October, but I hope you

will still be able to include this response as well, to clarify and facilitate

further discussion at the DAC meeting on 22 November. Thank you.

(a) We are pleased that the DAC agrees with the proposed

positioning of the icon and the plaque (and, as you mentioned

verbally in our phone conversation, with the proposed positioning

of the framed stained glass panel originally derived from Holy

Trinity Church, Kerridge).

(b) Taking the DAC’s advice on board, we are now (albeit reluctantly!)

content to withdraw from this faculty application our proposal to

affix the mosaic WELCOME sign permanently onto the fabric of

the internal stone doorway of the new entrance porch.

(c) We appreciate the DAC is cautious in not apparently creating a

precedent with regard to the positioning of the aumbry. However,

we consider that the configuration of the sanctuary area in St

Oswald’s is somewhat unique in terms of its history, and therefore

should not be held up as a precedent for any future applications.

This uniqueness derives partly from the fact that the “shelf” onto

which we propose to fix the aumbry was actually formed from the

front section of the original St Oswald’s plain altar, cut down with

permission in 2008 and reset back into the original reredos, in

order to make space to introduce (onto the top step of St

Oswald’s sanctuary) the beautiful carved altar retrieved from

Bollington’s former parish church, St John the Baptist.

Aesthetically this arrangement maintains the proper symmetry

intended visually for our Arts & Crafts building of 1908, and

consequently we consider that the proposed central positioning of

the unobtrusive aumbry (as unanimously agreed by the PCC ) will

only enhance the originally intended well-balanced visual aspect

of the sanctuary and it will also blend in perfectly with and

complement the similar hues of the surrounding wooden altar

furniture and original reredos.

(d) The suggestion of fixing the aumbry elsewhere in the sanctuary

would not be a practical solution (as Mark Pearce has pointed out

in his message copied below) as it would inevitably compromise

the existing fabric by damaging the surrounding wall panelling

(thought to have been brought into St Oswald’s from the

neighbouring Bollington Cross School hall/worship space at the

time when this separate church building was erected in 1908) and

also greatly restricting use of the very limited space we have

within the sanctuary, at a time when we are especially training up

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a team of eight or so keen young altar servers (as part of our on-

going evangelistic outreach) who serve at the altar alongside our

adult team of chalice assistants (meaning that we now often have

two children and two adults needing to be seated together on

one side of the sanctuary by the credence table, with the President

and often one of our Readers who is rota’d to preach being seated

on the opposite side). The different floor levels within the

sanctuary area – two steps up in all, beyond the entrance step at

the altar rail – mean that it would also potentially cause a Health

& Safety hazard to put up an additional substantial shelf for the

aumbry onto the north side or over a corner where the floor levels

differ and especially when consequently to access the aumbry at

anything other than a central position would necessitate stepping

down awkwardly off the top step during Communion services.

(e) The aumbry has two pre-drilled holes in its base which are

intended to enable it to be fixed onto a flat surface as we propose.

It is of a fairly substantial weight in itself and so would be difficult

to remove even when not firmly fixed through the holes provided,

but obviously our preference as a church would be the secure

fixing of the aumbry rather than leaving it free-standing, not least

for insurance purposes.

I trust that our response here, together with the professional advice

received from our architect, will serve to satisfactorily address the last few

points raised by the DAC.

We look forward to hearing further from you in due course. I am away on

holiday for two weeks from this afternoon until 1 December, so I’d be

grateful if you would address any further points of clarification needed

during this period directly to the Churchwardens, who are copied into this

message. Thank you.

Email of church architect as above

18/11/2019

To: Veronica Hydon,

Christine

Osbaldiston, Hilary

Young, Mark Pearce

of Kepczyk Pearce

Sanderson

From: Caroline Hilton

Many thanks for your message with the response to the DAC advice. This

will be brought to the DAC at its meeting on 22 November and we will be

in contact with the feedback following the meeting.

26/11/2019

To: Veronica Hydon

From: Caroline Hilton

DAC advice

I am writing to let you know that at its meeting of 22 November 2019, the

DAC considered your response to its previous feedback, and it wished to

offer the following informal advice:

a) The Committee understood the aesthetic arguments for the

proposed central location of the aumbry, however its main

concern was with the theological/liturgical implications associated

with this positioning. The Committee believed that the central

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positioning of the aumbry would set a precedent, with it not being

customary in the Church of England

b) It asked that the parish reconsider housing the aumbry in the

north east corner or on the north side, for example it could be

recessed in the wall

The Committee’s advice focused on the matter of the aumbry - as the

Committee acknowledged the removal of the ‘Welcome’ sign from the

application. It had previously noted it was content with the proposals for

the icon, plaque and stained glass.

The next DAC meeting is 18 December, with a deadline for submissions

being 4 December. I can pencil a place on the agenda for this meeting, if

you wish to provide a response to the DAC’s advice for consideration at

the December meeting.

02/12/2019

To: Caroline Hilton

From: Veronica

Hydon

Thank you for your message which arrived whilst I was away on holiday.

Yes, please do pencil in this matter again onto the agenda for the DAC

meeting on 18 December.

I will let you have our full response by Wednesday 4th December

accordingly.

04/12/2019

To: Katy Purvis,

Caroline Hilton

From: Veronica

Hydon

Thanks for your help in this matter.

Please see our response below to the DAC’s informal advice conveyed to

us on 26 November:

In the recently published Statement of Needs regarding the

appointment of a new Diocesan Bishop, the following extracts

seem relevant here:

The Diocese of Chester contains a rich diversity of places, cultures

and church traditions. Whilst there is an evangelical centre of

gravity to the diocese, there is a wide variety of traditions and a

strong sense of family identity. Whoever is appointed must come

with their eyes open and be able and willing to honour and

embrace our distinctiveness and differences in tradition, theological

conviction and opinion, for it is here that our greatest strength lies....

He or she must be ready to foster a culture of responsible risk-

taking where people and parishes are encouraged to bring a splash

of creativity into their missional and ministerial activities. This must

be done strategically and with thought, recognising the urgency of

the missional task that we face, whilst walking humbly and

modelling grace. The ability to lead complex organisations and a

willingness to challenge the status quo is essential.

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What is asked of our Diocesan Bishop we would hope would be

mirrored in the approach demonstrated within all our diocesan

committees.

In direct response to the DAC’s apparent nervousness expressed

in their item (a) about setting a precedent when recommending

the proposed central positioning of our aumbry at St Oswald’s, we

would like to reassure members that there are indeed already

numerous examples of such central positioning across the Church

of England, as well as elsewhere within the Anglican Communion.

To list just a few of those centrally placed on or behind the main

altar: St Matthew, Westminster; St Mary, Bourne Street; The

Annunciation, Marble Arch; St Agnes, Kennington Park (rebuilt in

1958); Holy Redeemer, Clerkenwell; St Silas, Kentish Town; Holy

Cross, Cromer Street; St Agnes, Birch-in-Rusholme, Manchester

(faculty granted in late 1980’s); St Alban, Holborn (restored in

1950’s after bomb damage and which church has a particular

connection to my own family – my grandfather George Weldon

Hydon used to sing in the choir there in the late nineteenth

century, and he even named his only son, my late father born in

1913, in appreciation of that church, Thomas Alban Weldon

Hydon). Further afield, there are many other examples of aumbries

placed centrally on the east walls of Lady Chapels, such as in

Christchurch Cathedral, Dublin (a recent reordering) and Overton

on Dee Church, Diocese of St Asaph. Amongst examples in our

own diocese, there is a hanging pyx over the centrally placed altar

at All Saints, Crewe (faculty given in early 1960’s) and in St Peter’s,

Oughtrington, the tabernacle is placed centrally on the Lady

Chapel altar, whilst in St Laurence, Frodsham, the tabernacle

(given faculty permission in the late 1970’s) sits very prominently

on a pillar in the Lady Chapel, in keeping with the liturgical

tradition of that church. At St Botolph, Aldgate (where I

worshipped whilst working as an Insurance Broker for 13 years at

Lloyd’s of London) a faculty was granted in the late 1980’s for a

hanging pyx in the form of a dove hovering centrally over the high

altar. I’m sure the list could go on!

As we have highlighted already, aesthetically the aumbry we wish

to install at St Oswald’s is entirely consistent in style with the “Arts

& Crafts” architecture of our building, and it simply depicts the

disciples gathered together at the Last Supper (as you may see

from the photographs already supplied). You will of course recall

that the central reredos behind the high altar at our mother

Church, Chester Cathedral, has a splendidly colourful mosaic of

Christ with his twelve disciples also at the Last Supper: the much

more subtle depiction on our unostentatious aumbry nevertheless

does share this authentic Biblical message of faithful participation

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in the Eucharist being a central tenet and calling of Christian

discipleship. Thus the proposal of placing our modest aumbry

centrally will be a continued visual expression of the central

liturgical place of the Parish Communion within our

congregational life here at St Oswald’s, well established over more

than a century in Bollington, with the service of Christ being at the

centre of our all mission and ministry, however much or how often

we (like those first disciples) may fall short. The aumbry, as already

stated, will serve also to house the holy oils (blessed by the Bishop

each Maundy Thursday, when of course we recall the Last Supper)

for use at Baptism, Confirmation and the Anointing of the Sick,

other sacramental signs of discipleship and compassionate service

that we value as part of both our liberal catholic liturgical practice

and our continuing evangelical heritage and outreach.

Our architect has already fully endorsed our proposal, which has

been given unanimous approval of our PCC. The members of our

PCC come from a wide range of theological traditions and

backgrounds and it is remarkable that we have come to a fully

agreed consensus on the installation and central positioning of

this aumbry, with a clear understanding of all the practical,

aesthetic, liturgical and theological considerations involved in our

proposal. In response to the DAC’s point (b), there is absolutely no

desire on the part of the PCC for any intrusion to be unnecessarily

made into any of the adjacent walls of the sanctuary (not least

having regard to the inevitable and unwarranted expense such

work would incur, for which we do not have any funds) and our

architect remains clear that the best and most appropriate option

is to place the aumbry centrally on the ready-made gradine on the

east wall.

As members of the DAC may be aware, there is a developing,

growing and deepening “catholic” understanding taking place

within the Church of England, as recently witnessed by members

of our Diocesan Chapter of the (Anglican) Society of Catholic

Priests in the “Adorate” events which took place nationally over

the summer, with increasing recognition of this renewed

understanding at services in our own Cathedral and in parishes

which for example keep the feast of Corpus Christi, which all

serves to bring that “splash of creativity” to complement other

more “evangelical” traditions in our diocese. In this wider scenario,

having a centrally placed aumbry at St Oswald’s, which, whilst not

claiming Bollington to be at the centre of the universe, could in a

small way be seen as a positive contribution to and reflection of

that growing understanding of diversity and inclusivity which

seems to us to be a Gospel imperative.

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We look forward to hearing the outcome of further consideration

of our application after the DAC meeting on 18 December. Thank

you.

05/12/2019

To: Caroline Hilton

From: Veronica

Hydon

With attachment

Further to my email yesterday, I meant to add into the sample list of

churches with a central aumbry: St Augustine, Tonge Moor, in Manchester

Diocese (where my husband Dave used to worship for many years with his

children). Also I’m re-attaching a photo of our proposed placing of the

aumbry, for ease of viewing without your having to go through previous

sets of photos I sent to you.

5) Further photo of aumbry

05/12/2019

To: Veronica Hydon

From: Katy Purvis,

Caroline Hilton

Many thanks for this and your previous message of yesterday evening. We

will put this to the DAC at its meeting on 18 December.

02/01/2020

To: Veronica Hydon

From: Caroline Hilton

DAC Advice

I am writing to let you know that at its meeting of 18 December 2019 the

DAC considered your response to the Committee’s previous informal

advice, namely regarding the proposed positioning of aumbry, and it

wished to offer the following further informal advice:

a) The Committee felt that whilst the central placing of the aumbry

was not unprecedented it was highly unusual.

b) The Committee was not attempting to constrain differences of

tradition as the parish suggested, but rather to advise on how

such traditions might be expressed in church buildings.

c) It observed that the central positioning of the aumbry is

customarily associated with the veneration of the host, and it was

not explicitly clear that the PCC understood the theological

meaning

d) The DAC reiterated its request that the parish consider alternative

locations for the aumbry – i.e. to the north east corner or to the

north side

The next DAC meeting takes place on 24 January 2020 with a deadline for

submissions being 10 January. If you wish to provide a response to the

above advice we can pencil this in on the agenda for the January

meeting.

09/01/2020

To: Caroline Hilton,

Katy Purvis

From: Veronica

Hydon

Thank you for letting us know the DAC’s latest response.

Our next PCC meeting is scheduled to take place on Monday 24 February,

so we will be giving this matter our full consideration at that meeting. I

would hope then to be able to email you the following day (Tuesday 25

February) with our agreed response to the points raised on 18 December

by the DAC.

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Because of the length of time already taken up with seeking advice on this

amended application, I’d be extremely grateful if you could very kindly

pencil our subsequent response onto the agenda of the DAC meeting

scheduled for Friday 28 February, if possible please? (I see the deadline for

submissions to that meeting is 14 February.) Otherwise I fear we would

need to wait until after the 27 March meeting for a further response from

the DAC, and we would ideally wish to progress this matter for

consideration by the Diocesan Registrar well before Easter.

I realise there is probably a good deal else on the agenda of every DAC

meeting but I do hope we might manage to have our next response

considered on 28 February if at all possible. Thanking you in anticipation

of your kind assistance.

13/02/2020

To: Caroline Hilton,

From: Veronica

Hydon

Because unfortunately the February DAC meeting has been brought

forward to 24 February (and as Katy is aware from our latest phone

conversation) we have not been able to discuss our response at the next

PCC meeting as planned (our meeting is scheduled for that same evening).

However, seven members of our Ministry Team have recently met

(comprising our two Churchwardens, PCC Secretary, PCC Treasurer,

Children & Families’ Worker, our Building Project Manager and myself)

and, with further input from our Reader who was unable to attend the

meeting, we would like to submit the following response to the DAC on

behalf of the whole PCC:

The aumbry is a gift to St Oswald’s Church from a long-standing and

regular member of our congregation. The donor is someone who

respects, understands and is cognisant not only of the tradition and

worship style of St Oswald’s but of the wider Anglican Church. Before this

generous gift was offered to the church (the supplier Ormsby of

Scarisbrick had lent it to us on approval for this very purpose) the PCC was

naturally offered the opportunity to discuss fully both its theological,

liturgical and practical significance within the life and witness of our parish,

as well as its proposed positioning. In all the discussions, the currently

proposed central positioning of the aumbry was endorsed by the whole

PCC as the place where the aumbry looked absolutely right and indeed

enhanced the sanctity and beauty of the East End of St Oswald’s Church.

So the Ministry Team is somewhat mystified about the on-going and

extensive advice emanating from the DAC. If this matter cannot be

resolved soon, the church requests that members of the DAC attend a

viewing at St Oswald’s to see for themselves just how appropriate our

request is for permission to place the aumbry centrally. Our own architect

has of course done just this and his report was independently sent to the

DAC on 8 November 2019 in full support of our current proposal.

Referring specifically to the latest four comments from the DAC, the

Ministry Team wishes to respond as follows:

a) Having considered the wealth of examples we supplied in our

email response dated 4 & 5 December 2019 (to which could also

be added St Michael, Coppenhall, Crewe), the DAC now

acknowledges that the central placing would not be

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“unprecedented” but instead chooses to refer to it as “highly

unusual”. However, we fail to understand whether this new

perspective constitutes legitimate grounds for refusal of our

request. Surely much of what our forebears did in adornment of

their ecclesiastical heritage could have been construed as unusual

at the time, but would now be considered as much-valued

features of our buildings, serving to deepen our spirituality and

enhance our future mission. It has been accepted by the DAC that

the central placing of the aumbry is not unknown.

b) The DAC’s advice on ‘tradition’ is noted but again the Ministry

Team wondered why, especially in view of the Eucharist being a

central tenet of St Oswald’s own particular liberal catholic

tradition, this was a valid reason for refusal of our request. To

place the aumbry centrally is literally expressive of our inherited

tradition and theological stance.

c) The Ministry team were unhappy that the DAC appeared to take a

rather patronising view of the PCC’s theological knowledge and

were quite offended at the inference that they had not

understood the significance of having the Sacrament reserved at

the heart of our church building. Whilst we are not “precious” in

our liturgical practice, we do encourage our congregation (and

especially our young people) to respect the sanctuary at all times

and many people value their own tradition of reverencing the altar

as an inherent expression of their personal spirituality. Already it is

our custom on Maundy Thursday (after our more informal Agape

Meal) to reverently place some of the consecrated bread and wine

centrally on the altar, where it remains during the late night Prayer

Vigil and on into Good Friday, including throughout our morning

Children’s Good Friday Trail and the subsequent adult version of

Stations of the Cross, until it is consumed as part of the Good

Friday Liturgy at 3.00pm. These longstanding Holy Week traditions

at St Oswald’s are much appreciated by people of all ages and in a

whole range of different circumstances, as a reminder of the

centrality of the Eucharist and the Cross in our everyday

experience and pointing always to the Resurrection Hope we

share. With the aumbry centrally placed, housing not only the

Reserved Sacrament but also the ash blessed for use on Ash

Wednesday and the holy oils blessed at the Cathedral on Maundy

Thursday, we will be proclaiming more explicitly all year round the

central importance of repentance, humility, compassion, healing,

dedication of our children alongside adult personal commitment,

and God’s unique gift of grace through Holy Communion, within

the life of our gathered congregation and the community we aim

to serve.

d) With regard to alternative locations for the aumbry, the Ministry

Team were disappointed that the DAC had not apparently taken

into consideration what had already been articulated to them in

previous correspondence both from the parish and its

architect. There simply is no way that the aumbry could be sited

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on a shelf on the north side or in the north-east corner: such a

siting would inevitably create not only an aesthetic imbalance, but

also cause health and safety problems due to negotiating the

steps in the relatively small area alongside the altar, and would

reduce the already limited space available for seating in the

sanctuary. If the aumbry had to go on a table, there is no room

for that either within the limited confines of our sanctuary, and in

any case that is not a secure solution. If it were to be inserted into

one of the walls, the building works needed to cut out a large

enough hole in either the outside wall or an internal one

(inevitably damaging the 1908 wall panelling, or else cutting into

the adamantine brickwork above the level of the panelling and

thus rendering the aumbry too high for convenient use – cf St

Martin, Ashton-upon-Mersey) is not something that the church

would wish to allow for aesthetic as well as practical reasons and

equally importantly there is no money available to do this!

The Ministry Team once again asks the DAC to consider this matter

practically and with proper consideration and respect for the wishes of the

PCC and congregation. If they still cannot come to a decision

recommending that the Chancellor might grant us a faculty, we note that

they are actually only an advisory body, and that we would then feel at

liberty to invite the Chancellor here to meet with us in person, if at all

possible in his busy schedule, simply so that he might more clearly

envisage for himself the merits of our proposal.

We look forward to hearing from you again in due course.

11/03/2020

To: Veronica Hydon,

Christine

Osbaldiston, Hilary

Young

From: Caroline Hilton

DAC Advice

I am writing to let you know that at its meeting of 24 February 2020 the

DAC considered the further response you provided regarding the

proposed position of the aumbry, and it wished to advise as follows:

The Committee resolved to Not Object to the scheme.

The reason for the DAC’s decision not to Recommend but to ‘Not Object’

is its concern regarding the proposed positioning of the aumbry behind

the altar at the east end. The Committee wished to stress that it was not

opposed to the introduction of an aumbry per se, rather it was concerned

that the central positioning of the aumbry was theologically controversial.

It fully understands the argument from the parish that the Eucharist is “a

central tenet of St Oswald’s own particular liberal catholic tradition”,

leading to the reservation of the Sacrament “at the heart of the church

building”, and that “God’s unique gift of grace through Holy Communion”

is of “central importance”. It does not agree that centrality in this sense

requires a central positioning of the aumbry. The DAC observed that the

central positioning of the aumbry is customarily associated with the

veneration of the host, and it felt that whilst the central placing of the

aumbry in Anglican churches was not completely unprecedented, it was

highly unusual. (The Committee did note that one positive factor of the

proposed aumbry positioning is that historic building fabric will not be

affected by its introduction.)

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At this point I have also needed to enquire with Registrar as to whether

there are any other procedural matters that will need to be addressed. The

Registrar has obtained advice from the Chancellor which she is now

considering and so I await her further response on this.

In the meantime I also concurrently need to consult with the Church

Buildings Council and obtain their feedback on this matter.

I will further update you once I have received the advice from the

Registrar.

17/03/2020

To: Caroline Hilton,

From: Veronica

Hydon

Thank you very much for your message.

I look forward to hearing back from you again when you’ve had time to

receive feedback from the Registrar and the Church Buildings Council.

01/06/2020

To: Veronica Hydon,

Christine

Osbaldiston, Hilary

Young

From: Caroline Hilton

Further to my message to you of 11 March 2020 I am writing to let you

know that we received the advice of the Chancellor regarding procedural

matters and the comments of the Church Buildings Council. Please see the

comment of the Church Buildings Council attached (just to note, I had

written to them specifically requesting their comments on the centrally

positioned aumbry but they also offered comment regarding the other

elements of the scheme).

It was necessary to bring the Church Buildings Council comment regarding

the aumbry to the DAC meeting that took place by video conference on

22 May.

I am now writing to let you know that at the DAC meeting of 25 May 2020,

the DAC considered the comments of Church Buildings Council regarding

the position of the aumbry, and wishes to offer the following informal

advice:

a) The Committee suggested to the parish that they consider the

option of removing the centrally positioned aumbry from the

faculty application so it would just comprise the icon,

commemorative plaque and stained glass panel. The Committee

was content to recommend those remaining items. Alternatively

the Committee reiterated its earlier suggestion that the aumbry be

located in the north chancel wall, as the Committee was

unsupportive of the central position of the aumbry rather than the

introduction of an aumbry itself

b) Further to (a) above if the parish wished to retain the centrally

positioned aumbry in the faculty application then the Committee

did not feel it could recommend that element of the proposals

and would therefore maintain that it resolved to ‘Not Object’ to

the scheme. In light of its further consideration of this matter

arising from the feedback received from the Church Buildings

Council it wished to offer a revised explanation for its ‘Not object’

decision, as follows:

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The reason for the DAC’s decision not to Recommend but

to ‘Not Object’ is its concern regarding the proposed

positioning of the aumbry behind the altar at the east

end. The Committee wished to stress that it was not

opposed to the introduction of an aumbry per se, rather it

felt strongly unsupportive of the central positioning of the

aumbry due to concerns that it was theologically

controversial. It fully understands the argument from the

parish that the Eucharist is “a central tenet of St Oswald’s

own particular liberal catholic tradition”, leading to the

reservation of the Sacrament “at the heart of the church

building”, and that “God’s unique gift of grace through

Holy Communion” is of “central importance”. It does not

agree that centrality in this sense requires a central

positioning of the aumbry. The DAC observed that the

central positioning of the aumbry is customarily

associated with the veneration of the host, and it felt that

whilst the central placing of the aumbry in Anglican

churches was not completely unprecedented, it was highly

unusual. (The Committee did note that one positive factor

of the proposed aumbry positioning is that historic

building fabric will not be affected by its introduction.)

Just to add to point (a) above, this suggestion is being offered as it is

expected that this would be a way for you to obtain more quickly and

straightforwardly the faculty for the remaining items of icon, plaque and

stained glass. (If you remove the centrally positioned aumbry from this

faculty application, you are free to submit a new further faculty submission

just for the aumbry. As is indicated by the explanation given above, I’d

envisage the DAC would formally advise ‘Not Recommend’ for this

separate proposal, and the faculty application would go on to be

progressed for the Chancellor to consider and make his decision.)

Please can you therefore let us know how you wish to proceed with the

faculty application? - either as suggested at (a) above, ie removing the

centrally positioned aumbry from it or amending the aumbry proposal so

it is located north chancel wall, or (b) continue with the proposal as it is,

including the centrally located aumbry – in which case the DAC’s formal

advice to ‘Not Object’ would apply and I would proceed with raising the

Notification of Advice and public notices on that basis.

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me.

02/06/2020 To: Caroline Hilton From: Veronica Hydon

Thank you very much for your timely update – I had been just about to send you an email enquiring as to progress on this! Great minds think alike Having referred your latest message of 01 June to our Ministry Team (our PCC Standing Committee), we can confirm that we definitely wish to proceed with the faculty application as it is (including the centrally located aumbry) for the scheme to install the aumbry, icon, plaque and stained glass panel (but excluding, as previously agreed, the original idea

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of affixing mosaic lettering onto the stonework above the internal entrance doorway) as per the second option stated in the final paragraph of your message below. By way of further clarification of our stance regarding the centrally located aumbry, we simply venture to say: Central to our faith is The Last Supper and we wish to place a bas-relief depiction of this, surmounted by the Cross, in a position that each communicant will see and reflect upon as they come up to receive the Holy Sacrament. It is this that is central, and the fact of the aumbry's practical purpose is an enhancement of this centrality. I look forward now to your kindly raising the Notification of Advice and public notices at your earliest convenience. It will be very good if this application is then able to be brought before the Chancellor as soon as practicable after the period of public display of notices is completed – and thus possibly achieving this before he goes “away” perhaps on a doubtless longed-for summer holiday break. Thank you very much for all your kind assistance in this matter. I hope you are not finding the present unusual lockdown circumstances too trying, and that you are managing to stay well and safe.

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Bollington St Oswald – Aumbry, stained glass and plaque – Consultation with Church

Buildings Council

Date Message

20/03/2020

To: Caroline Hilton

From: CBC

I have now heard back from the CBC member. Thank you for

consulting the Church Buildings Council regarding the introduction of

five new pieces of art and/or fittings to Bollington, St Oswald.

The Council agrees with the DAC that the mosaic lettering is not

appropriate.

The Council is aware of other Anglican churches with a centrally

located aumbry and does not object to the location in principle.

However, the statement of needs sets out that the central location is

proposed for practicality’s sake rather than as a central focus for

devotion. The Council therefore considers that the theological

rationale in this case, is not sufficient.

The cross being placed on top of the aumbry makes the cross appear

at odds with the candlesticks and a metal aumbry does not fit with the

aesthetic of a wooden altar.

The aumbry is however, an attractive object in its own right and the

Council has no objection to its introduction in the south or north wall

of the chancel.

The stained glass panel is an appropriate memorial of Holy Trinity

church and the proposed location seems appropriate.

The Council has no objection to the introduction of the framed icon of

St Oswald.

It is very considerate to have rescued the commemorative plaque to

Mr John Thomas Moss and the Council does not object to the plaque’s

installation in St Oswald’s, per se. However, the plaque states that he

knelt “close by this spot” each week and the Council is concerned that

this might be confusing as the plaque has been removed from its

original setting and context. It might be appropriate to have an

explanatory panel commissioned to go with the plaque, or a new

plaque made to commemorate him more appropriately.

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From Bollington PCC minutes of 26 November 2018:

Faculty application

Veronica described various useful sacramental and/or decorative items which the PCC might wish to have installed in church and for which faculty permission would be needed:

A glass panel from Holy Trinity, created from spare stained glass from the windows of the former Kerridge church, has been donated by Philip Good who in 2009 bought and carefully converted the church building into an impressive dwelling. Dave Williams has measured up and thinks the panel will fit neatly within the long narrow window frame in the new porch on the left of the main door, but we would need to consult the architect regarding the method of fixing. It was agreed that as the money for the new porch and extension was raised entirely from sale of Holy Trinity this would be an appropriate place and also a suitably decorative feature.

Plaque from St John 's commemorating the life of John Thomas Moss, Bell Major had been rescued from St John's Church by Veronica, under the permissions granted by Bishop Peter at the time of dispersal of various artefacts. The meeting felt it appropriate to have this historic link from St John's brought into St Oswald's. It could be placed on the internal section of brick wall which currently has no plaques and which is closest to our bell tower. Jackie was happy to ascertain whether there are any family members still alive so they can be consulted. (Subsequently no surviving family members have been found.) Again the architect would need to advise regarding fixings.

An icon of St Oswald was found by Dave Williams on the internet as a print and he had it framed in time for the church's 110'*̂ Birthday celebrations. Even though this framed print would moveable, on the advice of the Archdeacon we would still need faculty permission to hang it as it would be deemed an object enhancing our worship. It was agreed that it would be ideally placed above the wall plaque to Percy Thompson nearest to the pulpit.

An ambry (a lockable cupboard for storing the reserved sacrament): On a recent clergy outing to Ormsby of Scarisbrick (specialising in second hand church furnishings) Veronica's attention was drawn to a beautiful ambry (with a concealed keyhole) depicting the twelve apostles, which she thought would fit very neatly on the shelf behind the high altar. The company were happy for it to be brought back temporarily (on payment of a small deposit) in order to try it for size here in church. Currently any reserved sacrament is kept unceremoniously in the small vestry wall safe, along with money from collections, the holy oils and other miscellaneous objects. The cost of the proposed ambry would be generously donated by Dave Williams as his birthday gift to Church, for which the PCC expressed much appreciation. Its design means it could be fixed securely onto the shelf and it is big enough to store the reserved sacrament, holy oils, consecrated ash, plus ideally the home communion vessels previously donated by Hylda Arnold in remembrance of her late brother. Members of the PCC had the opportunity to go and inspect the proposed ambry set up in place for this purpose this evening, and it was agreed that this would be a very suitable acquisition, especially (as one member suggested) it would make the Vicar's life easier when attending to those wishing to receive the sacrament at home in times of need.

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Christine has checked on our behalf with Archdeacon Ian and he confirmed that a single faculty application for the four items will be required. Our architect is visiting next week anyway so we can take this opportunity to consult him regarding the aesthetics and various fixing arrangements. (This visit took place on 04 December 2018 and the architect approved our proposals, sussesting that a local joinery might enclose the stained glass panel in a narrow wooden frame for ease of fixing this within the existing porch window frame.) The meeting passed on a vote of thanks to Dave for his generous gesture and the motion to apply for faculty permission for all four items was unanimously carried.

Total PCC members present: 12 (apologies given 4)

From Bollinaton PCC minutes of 18 March 2019:

An application is being submitted by Christine and Veronica as unanimously agreed by the PCC at the meeting on 26 November 2018 regarding fixing the ambry and plaque, hanging the framed icon poster and installing the window section made with glass from Holy Trinity Church. Alongside these items, (following telephone advice of Caroline Hilton at the DAC) they would like also to include in this faculty application a request for permission to affix the 'welcome' mosaic letters gifted by Debbie Tracey prior to her moving away to the Isle of Man last summer. (These letters echo the colours of our external mosaic Debbie installed during the last Bollington Festival in May 2014). It was proposed to affix these mosaic letters appropriately in the new porch over the arched internal entrance doorway. Debbie will be returning on 15 May 2019 to run a Bollington Festival workshop here and it was suggested it would be beneficial then to seek her advice regarding the best method of fixing. Everyone unanimously voted in favour of seeking faculty permission for this to take place.

Total PCC members present: 14 (apologies given: 4)

Signed by Revd Canon Veronica Hydon Vicar of Bollington & Chair of Bollington PCC

29 July 2019

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