Chancel Repairs

Chancel Searches are a relatively new phenomenon, following a high profile 2003 court case relating to chancel repair obligations. In brief the case was as follows:

Aston Cantlow v Wallbanks Case (2003)

Mr & Mrs Wallbank inherited a farm holding in 1986 which was within the historical parish boundary's. When they inherited the property they also inherited the Chancel repair liabilities by succession. In 1990 the Church (Chancel) was in need of repairs, and in 1994 the Parochial Church Council requested the the Wallbanks pay for the cost of repairs.

The Wallbanks chose to dispute their liability, and ultimately lost their case being ordered to pay somewhere in the region of £200,000 towards repairs (the cost increasing significantly in the 9 years the case took to get to the House of Lords! As well as a hefty bill for legal expenses incurred by the Church, around £250,000!