NO MORE nipping round the back of the church, or queuing up at a
kindly neighbour's, or even sitting cross-legged throughout the
sermon. The medieval, rural All Saints', at Thornage, in
Norwich diocese, is at last going to get its own
lavatory and refreshment facilities in the vestry. And it has taken
two years of battle with those who opposed it.
The opponents' concern was that the installation in the
700-year-old church might disturb a family grave, although one
wonders whether the family in its turn might once have been
grateful for the proposed facility. But the two parishioners who
objected to the installation argued that a lavatory was not needed
- although the nearest public one was two miles away - and that it
would be "disrespectful" to a vestry built to honour local
servicemen killed in the First World War.
The Grade II listed church currently has a fortnightly service;
but the Priest-in-Charge, the Revd Barry Tomlinson, who has five
other churches, says that "there is no other community space in the
village - not even a school - and we do hold concerts, weddings,
and funerals here. At a recent concert, we had schoolchildren
practising here.
"Neighbours have been very kind, but it's one thing letting one
lady use your toilet; it's another thing when you have 18 children
queuing up."
It is members of the Barnard family who have been concerned. The
remains of Mabel Rose Barnard, and her husband, lie buried close to
the trench where the drainage pipes will be laid. Giving judgement,
the Chancellor of the diocese, the Worshipful Rose Arlow, said that
the petitioners acknowledged the Barnard family's concerns, but
were clear that there would be no disturbance of the family
grave.
"In this case, I am satisfied that the proposed works would not
result in harm to the significance of the church," she said. "That
is clearly the view shared by both English Heritage and the local
planning authority. These proposed facilities willgo a long way to
help this building to fulfil its role as such a centre in the
village of Thornage."
The work willbe funded by a £10,000 Big Society grant from North
Norfolk District Council and legacy funds.
