On Wednesday 26th June, it emerged that the Chancellor and archbishop of Canterbury found themselves at odds with each other over plans of converting a former church school in the Yorkshire dales.
Rishi Sunak, MP for Rishmond, Yorks has urged church leaders to reconsider the sale of Arkengarthdale Church of England primary school, The Guardian reported. Members of the community demanded archbishop Justin Welby to intervene. The diocese of Leeds reportedly informed that such conversions involve legal complications despite a C of E commission investigating ways that the church can help tackle the housing crisis – including by building affordable housing on its surplus land.
The building’s owners, Swaledale with Arkengarthdale parochial church council (PCC), put it up for sale with an asking price of £185,000. The school was bought in 1933 for £325. The school closed a year ago as a consequence of a declining and ageing population.
The Upper Dales Community Land Trust, a not-for-profit company that develops and manages homes displayed a proposal to convert the single-storey building into three two-bedroom homes and one one-bedroom home. This proposal was reportedly backed by the parish council, Richmondshire district council and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.
The trust put in a bid for the property of £150,000 but found itself up against seven other interested parties that offered the asking price. Under charities law, the PCC was obliged to accept the highest bid. Sunak in his letter to the PCC is asking it to reconsider the trust’s offer, he said, “The trust’s mission to provide affordable homes for rent in the Yorkshire dales is an important one for the future sustainability of these rural communities which we are all proud to serve.”
Last year, Welby set up a commission on housing, church and community to identify ways the C of E could help tackle the housing crisis. It said the church had “a significant contribution to make in this area. We have land and resources that can be used to help meet the need for more affordable housing.”
The trust is now in the process of applying for charitable status with the Charity Commission in the hope of making it eligible to buy the school at below the asking price.
