3. SITES, BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES AND ARTICLES TO BE INSPECTED
The following shall be included in every inspection:-
All accessible parts of the main structure of
the church building whether or not in the use of the Parish or subject
to the legal effects of consecration;
All parts of the premises in regular use as a place of worship or in
connection therewith;
Any halls or other rooms which have been formed within part of the
original church building for use by the Parish;
All listed buildings and scheduled ancient monuments within the site,
including any ruins, lych gates, walls and fences, churchyard tombs and
monuments and the like for the time being so designated;
All other perimeter walls, fences, gates, lychgates and all paths,
forecourts, parking areas and hardstandings, whether or not the PCC is
responsible for their maintenance, but to which the public may gain access
in connection with their resorting to the church;
Any tree subject to a tree preservation order for the time being;
Any moveable article in the church designated
under Schedule 3.3.1A(a) of the Care of Churches and Ecclesiastical
Jurisdiction Measure 1991 (hereinafter known as the Care of Churches Measure);
see Appendix A to this
Scheme.
Consideration should be given by the PCC, or other
person or body under 1(e),
to including the following parts of the premises within the inspection, at
the same time as the foregoing items:-
Any halls, vestries, parish
rooms or similar buildings within the site, but outside the church building;
Any halls or other accommodation within the main
church building containing the place of worship but licensed or leased
for use by others;
All other buildings or structures within any of
the premises covered by this Scheme but not included in (a) above.
Particular consideration should be given to the advisability of inspecting
any such parts which may affect safety of persons or the well-being of
the principal building - for example, retaining walls, ledger slabs, kerbs
and edgings, diseased or unstable trees and tree roots which may affect
foundations, collapsing tombs, loose gravestones.
Detached burial grounds or other sites or parts
of the church site detached by a scheme under the Pastoral Measure 1983
as revised, and which it is desired to inspect together with the church;
Trees which are not subject to a tree preservation
order for the time being;
It is strongly advised
that, pursuant to Schedule 3.3.1A(a) of the Care of Churches Measure,
any instruments and other fixtures of special value within the church,
and which have any mechanical or electrical parts or operation, should
be inspected together with all surrounding parts of the fabric contributing
to their support and protection. This may include any organ, turret clock
or bell(s). Where such inspection is required to go beyond a normal visual
inspection by an architect or surveyor, it should be carried out by the
firm responsible for maintenance or use of the article, or else by a suitable
specialist.
Where a new quinquennial inspector is appointed after
the coming into operation of this revised Scheme, the scope of inspections
for the purposes of para 3(a) and (b) and section
5 shall be defined at the time of appointment. For all quinquennial
inspectors already serving at the date of operation, and/or in case of alterations
or additions having been made to the buildings to be inspected, the scope
of each inspection shall be agreed between the PCC and the Inspector before
the inspection is made, if necessary with the help of the Archdeacon. It is
essential that any items should be inspected if there are reasonable grounds
for fearing a hazard. This should be discussed between the Inspector and the
PCC's representative before commencing.
