Business of the House

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 10:46 am on 30 March 2017.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Stewart Jackson Stewart Jackson Conservative, Peterborough 10:46, 30 March 2017

May we have a debate on protecting and valuing the Church of England estate? We learned this week that the Church of England’s consistory court and the chancellor of the diocese of Peterborough have given the green light to ripping out the interior of the grade I listed, 13th-century St Botolph’s church in Longthorpe, Peterborough. That will include replacing the altar with a self-standing altar and the pulpit with a modern lectern, and ripping out all the pews. Is it any wonder that the Church of England is losing the support of its parishioners when it so grievously fails to protect its own architectural heritage?