AFTER centuries of crossing their legs, parishioners of Beighton's St Mary the Virgin Church can finally look forward to relief.
A top ecclesiastical judge has at last given the thumbs-up to plans to install a toilet in the church on Church Lane.
And the scheme does not stop with a new loo.
As with any good DIY project that initially starts out as a small job the work has no
w snowballed into a full-scale renovation.
The Grade II listed church, which dates back to the 12th century, will now have some floors raised, some floors lowered, under-floor heating installed, disabled access created, a new kitchen, new oak doors, new lighting, a new font, a new electronic organ replacing the pipe organ and new chairs replacing the pews – all on top of the new toilet plan that originally got the re-development ball rolling.
Rev Mike Cameron, who has been at the church for 10 years, said: "We have been working on trying to get a toilet in the church for eight years. It has been a long battle but I'm really pleased."
Up until now the nearest toilet was in the church hall 200 yards away.
"I do think parishioners were put off coming," added Rev Cameron. "It's difficult for the older parishioners and for me when I'm in church for three hours at a time. But once the work is complete I'm sure the church will be used more."
Work is expected to start in October and take five months.
The renovation comes despite a petition from some concerned churchgoers questioning the scale of the job after they argued all that was needed was a toilet.
But the judge of the consistory court backed the view of Rev Cameron that the provision of a toilet in the church, which was last reordered in 1867, justified a bigger project in order to "equip the church for the next 100 years".
He said although a petition organised by parishioner Doreen Weatherall had been sent to him with 170 names on it, no-one had sought to oppose the petition in the consistory court.
And he said the plans broadly had the backing of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, the Ancient Monuments Society, English Heritage, the Council for the Care of Churches and the Victorian Society.
He ruled: "In my judgment, the case for the proposed changes is generally made out and the support of the specialist bodies is a significant factor."
The existing pipe organ will be removed to create space for the toilet.
The consistory courts deal with all matters concerning 'faculties' or authorisations – such as those relating to church improvement works.
