​Surprise ruling in case of G. E. Street’s St Mary the Virgin, Wheatley, Oxfordshire

The Victorian Society has experienced rare success at Consistory Court, saving St Mary the Virgin’s (GE Street, grade II*, 1855-1857) original tiled floor from being replaced with stone, which was part of broader reordering plans.

The Society made the case that the present floor is significant in the context of the whole building, and is intrinsic to the church’s design, character, and appearance, as built by GE Street, one of the Victorian era’s most distinguished architects.

Churches are exempt from secular planning authorities, instead all planning applications go through Consistory Court, an ecclesiastical court that deals with land and property owned by the Church of England. Every diocese has its own consistory court, overseen by the chancellor of the diocese.

The Victorian Society, as a formal objector in the court, convinced the Worshipful Chancellor David Hodge QC, that removing the original tiled floor and replacing it with stone would seriously undermine the building’s architectural significance.

During the proceedings, the parish failed to demonstrate that the retention of the present floor, or its recreation as part of the wholesale reordering proposed, was not possible.

Success at Consistory Court is almost unheard of, and the ruling, which acknowledges the special interest and heritage status of the church, is welcome.

The Society has been consulting with the parish of Wheatley for the past three years on the reordering plans for the church, and reached mutual compromises agreements in all other aspects of the proposals, including the replacement of some of the benches with stackable chairs, the remodelling of the back of the church, and full enclosure of the vestry.

Street was famous for his attention to detail in the fittings he designed, especially his ironwork, woodwork, and his tile floors. It is even said that he would not let his assistants design so much as a keyhole.

The church has enjoyed an interesting history since, from its Vicar Edward Elton needing a police escort to attend the church’s first service, to acquiring a bell from Russia during the Civil War, to hosting the marriage of former PM Theresa May.

Find out more about GE Street’s works and European inspiration in our talk ‘An Architect Abroad, Mr Street en Vacances’:

For more information on GE Street’s churches, click here.

11/02/2022