Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011

66 Pastoral (church buildings disposal) schemes in respect of churches closed or demolished otherwise than under this Measure

(1) Where the bishop of a diocese certifies that a church in his diocese or any part of such a church has not been used for divine service since 1st April 1964, and the incumbent (if any), the patron and the parochial church council of the parish in which the church is situated give their consent, the Commissioners may make an order declaring the church or part to be closed for regular public worship and thereupon this Part shall apply as if the declaration were a declaration of closure for regular public worship made by a pastoral church buildings scheme.

(2) Where any church or part of a church has at any time been demolished otherwise than under this Part, a pastoral (church buildings disposal) scheme providing for all or any of the matters mentioned in section 63(4) may at any time after the demolition, be prepared and made in accordance with subsections (2) to (11) of section 62 and subsection (13) of section 62 shall apply.

(3) Where by virtue of subsection (2) a pastoral (church buildings disposal) scheme provides for any of the matters mentioned in section 63(4)(a), section 63(5) shall apply in relation to the proceeds and net proceeds of any sale or exchange, and to the premiums and net premiums on any lease, of the site or part of the site of the church or part of the church to which the scheme applies as it applies where a pastoral (church buildings disposal) scheme which provides for the demolition of a building closed for regular public worship also provides for any of those matters:

Provided that, where the Commissioners are satisfied that a new church or place of worship is to be provided in the area of the benefice in which a demolished church was situated, to take the place of the demolished church, the net proceeds and the net premiums shall be applied in accordance with section 58(1)(c).