God created Man and granted him dominion over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the Earth, according to the Book of Genesis.

But when it came to one of the creepiest things of all, bats, God clearly made an exception of His own special representatives on Earth — the bishops of the Church of England.

Proving that in bat-loving England, it is they that have dominion over every other living thing, bats in the boilerhouse have blocked a senior bishop’s plans to move into his new house.

The Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, the Right Rev John Packer, has had to defer his moving plans for at least a year while architects struggle to accommodate two species of protected bats in his new home. The brown long-eared bats and pipistrelles were discovered by surveyors in Hollin House, Leeds, after it was bought for the bishop for £850,000.

Architects are now preparing to install special accommodation for the bats, merely the latest in a long list of beneficiaries of Britain’s strict conservation laws. Bishop Packer is downsizing from his palatial home in Ripon to a detached house on the outskirts of Leeds, bought by the Church Commissioners. The move is part of a re-centring of the diocese, which added “Leeds” to its name in 1999 to reflect the demographic change since Ripon became a diocese in the 1830s.

The bats are in the coach house at Hollin House, an outbuilding intended for conversion to a private chapel and offices. Hollin House dates from the early 19th century and was once owned by the family of Captain Lawrence Oates, a member of Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s expedition to the South Pole made famous by his words in 1912: “I am just going outside and may be some time.”

There is no previous record of bats in the house. The most recent owners, George and Zoe Helm, say they are surprised at the discovery. But there is no doubt over the bats’ existence now, and to help them feel at home after the bishop moves in, the brown long-eared are to have a bat run built for them in the roof of the coach house and the pipistrelles are to have a heated bat box in the boiler room.

The Church Commissioners will also apply for licen-ces from English Nature and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. They must demonstrate that the alterations to a chapel and office space will not disturb the bats. A spokesman for the bishop said: “Bishop John is happy to be sharing his new home with these rare creatures. As long as they are happy, so is he.”

Animal rights

Engineers carrying out electrical repairs at Stansted airport had to call a halt for two weeks after a greater crested newt was spotted

Source: Times archive

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