Exits to churches

(1) Whenever it appears to the Minister that any church, (a) is not provided with sufficient fire fighting apparatus to ensure the safety from fire of the congregation attending it; or (b) is not provided with sufficient exits to ensure the free egress of the members of the congregation in case of accident or necessity, the Minister may order that such church be provided with such fire fighting apparatus or exits as appears to him to be necessary for the purposes aforesaid within a certain time specified in such Order. (2) A copy of the Order made pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, which need not be addressed to any person by name, duly certified by the Permanent Secretary, shall be served personally on any person who has within one month prior to the date of such Order conducted any service or meeting in such church and shall be posted on some conspicuous part of such church. (3) If any Order made under subsection (1) is not complied with within the time specified in the Order, the Minister may, by notice which shall be published in the Gazette, and a duplicate of which shall be posted on some conspicuous part of 8 such church, direct that no services or meetings of any sort be held in the church until the Minister’s permission is obtained. (4) Any person authorised by the Minister for the purpose, may post, stick or fasten any such Order or notice on any such church. (5) Every person who conducts, presides at, holds, assists or takes part in, any service or meeting in any church described in this section after the publication of a notice as aforesaid and before the sanction of the Minister is obtained as required by this section, and every person who tears down, obliterates, renders illegible or removes any such Order or notice as mentioned in this section which is posted, stuck or fastened to any such church as aforesaid, while such Order or notice is in full force or effect, is guilty of an offence.