The Church Commissioners have decided, in principle, to sell Rose Castle, which was the residence of the Bishops of Carlisle until it was declared unsuitable as a See House in 2009. The Commissioners will now begin formal consultations with the Diocese of Carlisle and English Heritage to discuss the nature and terms of the proposed sale.

The Commissioners have also decided to delay the marketing process until Autumn 2013. This provides a period of two years in which a local trust could raise funds to make a competitive offer to purchase the castle. This decision is in recognition of the historic and architectural significance of Rose Castle and the desire by a local group (the Friends of Rose Castle) to see the property and its gardens opened for public access. The Commissioners have for the last 18 months informally consulted with the Friends of Rose Castle and the Diocese.

In reaching the decision in principle to sell Rose Castle, the Commissioners' Assets Committee, supported by their Board of Governors, considered their financial responsibilities towards their beneficiaries, and the good use to which the sale proceeds can be put. This includes funding support for Christian ministry within poorer parishes across the country.

Rose Castle is a 1,550 square metre Grade 1 listed property near Dalston, Cumbria. The current Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt Revd James Newcome, lives in and exercises his ministry from a house in Keswick that is of a standard and specification designed to meet the needs of a present day bishop and his Diocese.

Notes
Rose Castle was home to the bishops of Carlisle since 1230. It is a large fortified house (1,550 sq metres) with a number of public rooms (including a private chapel) and 16 bedrooms. Much of the original house has been lost, with the current house being largely seventeenth century in origin, set in six acres of grounds with two semi-detached cottages. It is a significant heritage property and is listed Grade I.
Within the house, the state drawing and dining rooms are of note, with the former's walls covered by nineteenth century Chinese silk paper of a non-repeating series. The entrance hall contains an imposing oak staircase with carvings of roses and coats of arms. The private neo-gothic chapel is situated on the first floor and was substantially re-ordered by Bishop Hugh Percy (1827-56).

The grounds are of historic interest and include a thirteenth century fish pond, walled gardens and a disused moat. Attached to the house, at its north-east corner, is Strickland Tower, comprising a basement and three floors, used by the family as a shelter from raiding Scots.

About the Church Commissioners
The Church Commissioners manage an investment portfolio of around £5bn, largely in property and shares, derived from the Church's historic resources and contribute around 16p in the pound to the cost of the Church of England's mission - most of the balance comes from the generous giving of today's parishioners.
They pay for all clergy pensions earned up to the end of 1997 - pensions since then are paid for by dioceses, largely from money donated by parishioners, and pay the stipends and workings costs of all the Church of England's bishops - and the housing costs of all diocesan bishops - in support of their local and national ministries.
They provide more than £40 million each year in support for parish ministry, primarily to less-resourced dioceses.
They also support the mission of the Church's cathedrals by paying the stipends of the majority of cathedral deans and two stipendiary canons, as well as making other cathedral grants.