The Victorian Society (Vic Soc), in its role as a National Amenity Society, has objected to proposals for an extensive re-ordering put forward by the Church of St Botolph, a Grade I-listed building in Longthorpe, Peterborough, and IHBC members can study the Society’s perspectives via their online posting.
Built in the 13th century and restored in the 19th, the Church of St Botolph, is ‘one of the oldest buildings in Peterborough, while the interiors (and roof) are largely Victorian, including the tiled chancel flooring and the majority of the nave and chancel fixtures.’
The Victorian Society writes:
‘Proposals currently approved by the Chancellor involve the extensive reordering of the whole church interiors. The vast majority of the nave and chancel fixtures would be removed (including the nave pews and all but two of the chancel pews, as well as the altar) and the Victorian tiled chancel flooring would be removed. The reasoning behind this extensive reordering is to facilitate more flexible usage, both for the regular worshipping congregation and for wider community events.’
‘The Victorian Society opposes the proposals as they currently stand and have submitted an appeal against the Chancellor’s judgement.
The focus of our objection, and therefore of the appeal also, is the removal of the large majority of the chancel furnishings, including the choir stalls, readers’ chairs and desks, communion rails, sanctuary flooring and reredos and the eagle lectern. We have consistently argued that the chancel furnishings should be retained as an ensemble both because of their historic and architectural significance.
The Victorian Society supports many church reorderings, however this extensive reordering goes far beyond what we believe to be necessary to achieve the goals planned by the church, causing substantial harm to both the architectural and historic significance of the building. Our views are shared by both Historic England (who reiterated their strong objections in 2015) and the 20th Century Society, who both feel the extent of the proposed reordering to be unjustifiable.’
