Conversation

Andrew and Gail Wallbank received a demand for almost £100,000 to fund repairs of their parish's medieval church at Aston Cantlow. After a protracted legal battle, as they sought to challenge this ruling, the Law Lords found in favour of the parochial church council, leaving the Wallbanks with a £350,000 bill including legal costs.

The historic rectory of St. John the Baptist church, Aston Cantlow's was acquired by the Priors of Maxstoke in 1345 leaving a "discharged vicarage" (as the name for the living of the priest) and creating lay improprietors (lay rectors) of the glebe land – e.g. in 1848 this was the Earl of Abergavenny. He held the glebe land, in this case helpfully named Glebe Farm, so was responsible for the chancel.