Faculty Proposal: Pew Removal at St Mary Virgin, Northill
The Parochial Church Council of St Mary Virgin, Northill, has submitted a faculty application to the Diocese of St Albans for permission to remove selected pews from the church interior.
What is proposed?
We plan to remove the pews in the north-west section of the church and the remaining ‘back row’ pew in the south-west area. This will create a more flexible open space at the rear of the church, allowing for a wider range of uses—both liturgical and community-focused.
Why are we doing this?
- To support worship, concerts, and social gatherings with adaptable seating
- To enable local history displays to be more accessible to visitors
- To encourage greater community engagement with the church building
- To align with ideas from the recent Hope for Rural Churches initiative
How will it be done?
The work will be carried out in two stages:
- Removal of pews and tidying of the wooden floor (by volunteers, at no cost)
- Replacement of flooring in the affected areas with black and red tiles to match existing church flooring
Who are the petitioners?
- Rev Christopher Lowdon – Parish Priest
- Mrs Louisa Rix – Churchwarden
- Mrs Lesley-Ann Cowell – Churchwarden
The public consultation has closed, and this matter is now before the Conisitory Court.
