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Clash of tradition at Craven's oldest church

8:29am Friday 22nd June 2007

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MODERNISATION plans for a grade one listed church have been described as vandalism by objectors.

For the second time in four years, custodians of St Andrew's Church, Kildwick, want to bring the church up to date by providing "wide ranging community facilities".

“If the changes go ahead, there will be no visitors and no weddings. It will just look like a big hall and there will be ramifications for the village.”

But some villagers say the plans - which will mean the removal of all the church pews and their replacement with "flexible seating" - will turn the church into a featureless barn.

And they claim that the majority of the village is against the plans but has been drowned out by a new, modern wave of "Happy Clappers".

The Herald understands that a number of objections have been raised and the Bradford Diocese has extended the time for people to comment on the plans from June 3 to June 30 "to ensure people have the widest opportunity to have all the information".

The church is the oldest in Craven, dating back to 950 and most of the building dates back to the 14th century.

One couple, who wished not to be named, but who have lived in the village for 40 years, said what made the church so special could be lost forever.

"They've used a lot of flowery words to put across what they want to do, but never said anything about ripping out all the pews," they claimed.

They also fear that by creating a more usable space for the community, the village's two other public venues will be put at risk.

"It will be a huge, empty space and if it's successful, it would undermine other facilities in the village. We've got the parish rooms and the village institute which has been refurbished and desperately needs people to use it."

They believed no-one in the village actually supported the changes to the church and were unaware of the extent of the alterations.

"Our concern is that people are generally unaware of the extent of the radical nature of what is being proposed," said the couple.

They added that they were not against some change, but would like to see the proposals toned down.

"We would like to see something less radical. To take some of the pews out, but leave others and leave the Lady Chapel, which is beautiful.

"If the changes go ahead, there will be no visitors and no weddings. It will just look like a big hall and there will be ramifications for the village."

Last month, the church held open evenings to discuss its plans.

The Lang Kirk 21 Project, which will cost £750,000, follows a consultation where people were asked what they wanted from their church. The plans for the church include the installation of flexible seating, a meeting room, crèche, a kitchen, toilets and a disabled access.

Tim Wilson, chairman of St Andrew's Church Building Development Group, said: "Change always brings objection and we recognised this was inevitable and that people might have strong feelings about some aspects of the proposed re-ordering.

"The question about removal of the pews is a difficult issue and I am not sure there is a right or wrong. Whilst a number of people - mainly non-worshippers at the church - are objecting to the proposed removal of the pews from the church, the majority are fully accepting of the need for the church to move forward."

He said in addition to the open meetings the full plans and illustrative brochures had been on display in the church for seven months and there had also been regular updates in the parish magazine.

"The scheme has been designed by a respected architectural practice with considerable ecclesiastical experience and we have consulted with English Heritage, the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings and the Council for the Care of Churches and others," said Mr Wilson.

Kildwick's vicar, the Rev Robin Figg, said the church was trying to develop in ways to complement other nearby facilities.

It enjoyed strong links with Kildwick Primary School and a good relationship with the local institute.

The decision now lies with the Consistory Court, a formal legal process for the Church of England.

Comments should be sent to Peter Foskett, Diocesan Registry, 14 Piccadilly, Bradford, BD1 3LX.

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Anon, says...
10:24am Fri 22 Jun 07

As a worshiper at St. Andrew's I would like to point out that my understanding of the proposed scheme is that while the majority of the Victorian pews will be removed, the older woodwork and some of the choir stalls will be retained. The pews are very uncomfortable and restrictive in terms of the way the building can be used. Several other ancient and beautiful buildings have flexible seating (for example York Minster) which is symathetic to the architecture of the place of worship. I do not see how anyone could compare places like this to an empty hall. The church will still be primarily a place of worship but will be suitable for a range of other events and uses at the same time.


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matthew lacey, York says...
10:56am Fri 22 Jun 07

Not so sure I agree with "de-churchifying" churches. There's a few in York where I live now which are pretty bleak. Then again, there are plenty of churches in York and I don't worship at any of the newer ones. The question is I suppose who do churches belong to? The local community or the people who go there? A bit of both I think

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Anon, says...
3:20pm Fri 22 Jun 07

Matthew, you point is a good one. It is important that the church building is also a resource for the whole community, although its primary function should always be worship. I think that the plans for Kildwick clearly reflect this and the building will not be "de-churchified", just made more fit for purpose for future generations while preserving important contributions of previous ones.

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Gill, local says...
10:04am Tue 26 Jun 07

As one of the many regular worshippers at Kildwick looking forward to our church building being more comfortable, I am distressed that those who only set foot inside the door in order to object seem to prefer the idea of a crumbling monument rather than a beautiful, warm, light and useful building that glorifies God, which is our prime objective. The idea that our architect-designed changes will mean no weddings or visitors is nonsense; how many wedding venues do you know without heating or indoor toilets, or comfortable seating for that matter? We shall be delighted to welcome wedding couples and their guests, babies and their families and anyone else who wants to praise God. We don't want an empty museum! There are many of us who are excited at the prospect of change and want to use the building for its original purpose rather than simply and solely preserving history. Thank God!

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Anon, kildwick says...
1:20am Wed 27 Jun 07

As a regular worshipper at St Andrew's who has been connected with the church for over fifty years I am fully supportive of the plans that are proposed for the development of the church building. Everything proposed has been very carefully thought out by the Parochial church council who have kept everyone informed by regular updates in the 'Bridge' magazine- a free monthly publication which is distributed very widely throughout the district, and the plans drawings, statements of need etc have been on display in church for many many months. Consultations have been carried out opinions sought and everybody has been given the chance to voice their opinion. How wonderful that this P C C have the backing of the church community for such a far sighted development. With increased space and adequate heating and comfortable seating what opportunities will be presented reach out and to live out its Mission Statement to the full. Just as the church as been developed and altered many times throughout its long history the P C C are to be congratulated on this well thought out scheme which will allow St Andrew's to bear witness to the Christian faith in this century and beyond just as so many many others have done down the centuries. If people in the past had not had the foresight, bravery and intelligence to look into the future who knows the Lang Kirk of Craven or St Andrew's may not even be here now. Congratulations to all who have anything to do with this good scheme. Many Many people support you.

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Anon, Keighley says...
1:41am Wed 27 Jun 07

I worship at St Andrew's Kildwick and I am fully supportive of the plans to develop the church building. In my opinion a church should be a living place not just used on Sundays or as a venue for weddings and baptisms or as a museum With the proposed plans I can see that the building can be a vibrant place - yet the plans allow for everything that one would expect in a house of God. Quiet spaces for prayers and private worship, flexible worhip area for the many differing types of services that are held at St Andrew's but which are somewhat restricted at the moment. I have read about St Andrew's being described as 'happy clappy'- not exactly sure what this means. We are a happy place and sometimes we do clap our hands but also we have traditional type services, evensong once a month,eucharistic services, celtic services ,taize services, healing services, traditional carol services- yes there is something for everbody at St Andrew's! The plans seem to me to have been very well thought out and I think that nobody should be concerned that history and heritage is going to be destroyed- quite the opposite I should say. We do know that people are wanting to worship at St Andrew's but cannot because of the uncomfortable seating and poor access for the disabled and in this day and age it does not seem acceptable to expect anyone young or old able or not so abled to have to leave the building, sometimes in cold wet and dark weather to use the facilities in the Parish rooms which are not too close to the church building- being through the car park. How many people would find this acceptable in their own homes- not many I would suspect so it is understandable that the church members are wanting to improve conditions for the many many people who come regularly and love to do so to St Andrews. As just an ordinary member of the congegation I congratulate the P C C on giving me the opportunity to look forward to what could be a wonderful future for the church in Kildwick.

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Mary, West Yorks. says...
7:36pm Wed 27 Jun 07

To the members of St Andrew's Kildwick who have worked so hard to achieve plans to ensure better facilities for all in the church get still ensuring that the building will still be a place for worship, quiet prayer and meditation and the historical features in the church will be kept.
It seems to be a very good scheme and is supported by many many people. Keep positive - it can happen

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Roland, West Yorkshire says...
9:51am Thu 28 Jun 07

How good that the people at Kildwick want to ensure that the church building is fit for worship in the 21st century and beyond and can be used not just on Sundays but 7 days a week.
Churches have changed and evolved much through the ages and people in the past have had the courage and foresight to realise that buildings must be 'living' stones not museums.
I have read in one or two press reports that some people are against the removal of the pews. Pews have not always been in churches. Anyone visiting Fountains Abbey or any of the great abbeys will see the remains of the 'stone' seating round the sides - allocated only for the sick and infirm. Indeed churches were used for all kinds of things including markets.
That St Andrew's want a flexible uesful space is then, obviously, nothing new.
I look forward to hearing of the success of these forsighted plans.

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St Andrew's Church at Kildwick St Andrew's Church at Kildwick

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