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Rose Castle, Carlisle

25 September 2009

The Church Commissioners, following an extensive review of Rose Castle, have deemed the property no longer to be suitable as the see house for future Bishops of Carlisle.

The suitability of Rose Castle as a see house was reviewed in 2008 and the decision was taken to retain it. However, the financial climate has changed considerably since then and, following the retirement of Bishop Graham Dow, the Commissioners undertook a further review. This found that a considerable amount of money would be required to be spent on the property. In addition, many people in the Diocese argue that it would be more appropriate for the Diocesan Bishop to live in a more accessible and environmentally greener home.

The Bishop’s Council of Carlisle Diocese supports the decision which has been taken following consultation with interested parties.

Several alternative housing arrangements for the Bishop of Carlisle are being considered by the Church Commissioners, in conjunction with the new bishop and the diocese.

Although it has been deemed that Rose Castle is unsuitable as the Bishop’s house, its future has not otherwise been finalised. The views of all interested parties will be taken into account by the Church Commissioners, who will be undertaking a further consultation exercise about Rose Castle’s future. It will be some time before a decision is made.

Andrew Brown, Secretary to the Church Commissioners, said: “Rose Castle is a wonderful property but a lot of money would need to be spent to make it suitable for a home and base for the bishop’s ministry. There are many calls on the Commissioners’ financial support for the Church’s mission and ministry and so tough choices have to be faced. It was not an easy decision, but with local support, the Board of Governors feels it is the right decision for the Church of England’s mission.”

 

Notes

The Church Commissioners are responsible for the management of the Church of England’s historic assets, today invested in stock market shares and property, to produce money to support the Church’s ministry. The Church Commissioners meet some 17 per cent of the Church’s total running costs nationally. The Bishoprics’ and Cathedrals Committee is responsible for bishops’ staffing and working costs, and diocesan bishops’ housing.

In addition to financial considerations, there are historical and practical precedents for bishops moving to more suitable homes. At the beginning of the twentieth century, for example, Edward King, Bishop of Lincoln, moved from his palace in the countryside, in order to be less distant from and more accessible to his people. As far back as 1942 the then Diocesan Conference in Carlisle argued that the use of Rose Castle needed to be re-thought.

Two years ago the newly installed Bishop of Worcester moved into a recently acquired house very close to the Cathedral rather than move into Hartlebury Castle and the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds moved from Ripon to Leeds.

Every diocesan bishop's house is reviewed, as a matter of course, during his occupancy to ensure such houses are suitable both as a base for that bishop's ministry and as a home for his family. Guidelines as to the office, hospitality and living space that should be provided for each bishop were set in 2005, against which the property is reviewed [see www.cofe.anglican.org/info/papers/srosh.doc]. The review also includes a management plan for the property.

There are a number of factors taken into account when considering bishops' houses. Much of the space is used for meetings, hosting large groups, office accommodation, as well as for family accommodation. It is the base not only for the bishop’s home life but also for his mission and ministry.