I think it's terrifically important to save, preserve, and protect historic buildings, including church buildings.
But to bankrupt someone wholly unconnected with the church in the name of doing so is atrocious and outwith any Christian principle I was brought up to recognise.
Summary: A couple who live in Wales but inherited farm in Warwickshire are being required to pay nearly £200,000 for upkeep of a church near the farm because one of the fields of the farm was designated at some point in the distant past as property that should support the church.
Even one of the Law Lords who decided the case called the relevant law "anachronistic, even capricious".
Apparently homebuyers can now purchase insurance to protect one against later discovery of such a liability.
Sheesh.
But to bankrupt someone wholly unconnected with the church in the name of doing so is atrocious and outwith any Christian principle I was brought up to recognise.
Summary: A couple who live in Wales but inherited farm in Warwickshire are being required to pay nearly £200,000 for upkeep of a church near the farm because one of the fields of the farm was designated at some point in the distant past as property that should support the church.
Even one of the Law Lords who decided the case called the relevant law "anachronistic, even capricious".
Apparently homebuyers can now purchase insurance to protect one against later discovery of such a liability.
Sheesh.