Lord protect us! Now even the pulpit in a 836-year-old church falls victim to health and safety

For centuries the word of God had been preached unhindered from the pulpit in the Church of All Saints – then along came the health and safety jobsworths.

Now the church has been forced to draw up guidelines after being warned by council officials that the pulpit is ‘dangerous’ and that preachers might be injured while climbing its seven spiral stone steps.

Mind your steps: Churchwarden Gary Hepburn had to draw up safety rules for those using the pulpit

The church in the Wyke Regis area of Weymouth, Dorset, dates from 1172 and has no record of injured clergy.

But the health and safety officers suggested the addition of an unsightly handrail to the 16th Century pulpit.

The diocesan authorities, however, wouldn’t hear of it. As an alternative, churchwarden Gary Hepburn drew up his own safety guidelines.

These pledge that no one under the influence of drink or drugs will be allowed to use the pulpit. And the steps shall not be approached in dim lighting, by anyone with poor vision or wearing bifocals, or by anyone feeling unwell.

Those entering or leaving the pulpit are advised to make maximum use of the structure itself and the stone column supporting it to steady themselves. All of which appeased inspectors from the environmental health department of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council.

This may not be surprising - as Mr Hepburn is by chance a health and safety consultant.

He said: ‘The issues were raised when a visit was carried out by council officials on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive. They were looking at the building and its use in relation  to the dangers that might be present in a workplace, which is not comparing like with like, in my humble opinion.

‘The most contentious item was the pulpit and there was no way the church authorities were going to allow a horrible plastic and metal handrail to be installed, so we had to try an alternative tack.

‘In my professional capacity, I knew the type of things that needed to be said to reassure the inspectors and the way in which they should be expressed.

‘Fortunately my Safe System Of Work pamphlet was successful and normal service has been resumed – although I must admit even my faith was sorely tested at one stage.’

The Rev Deborah Smith, Vicar of All Saints, said: ‘I would like to take this opportunity to reassure my congregation that I have never taken the pulpit while under the influence of anything except the Holy Spirit.

‘It does seem a little draconian to be so prescriptive about what is a common action, which must have been performed thousands of times in far more difficult circumstances than exist at All Saints, but who are we to reason why?’

The council said that it was responsible for inspecting premises to ensure they met health and safety requirements.

A spokesman added that inspectors had suggested the handrail ‘if considered appropriate by the church’.