Fury as church plans to rip out pews to so fat people can walk down the aisle
PLANS to rip out church pews so fat folk can walk down the aisle have sparked an unholy row.
The rector has even spoken to cops of threats from parishioners.
The pews in St Andrew’s Church in Okeford Fitzpaine, Dorset, are being replaced with modern chairs[/caption]Victorian wooden pews, which are screwed to the floor, are being replaced with modern chairs at St Andrew’s Church in Okeford Fitzpaine, Dorset.
The Parochial Church Council says it would avoid “embarrassment” for overweight newlyweds.
Their report states: “We have also had occasions at weddings where the couple have been too large to be able to walk side by side down the aisle. With chairs we would be able to widen the aisle.”
It adds that the pews are also ill-suited to the ‘human form of today’.
And doing away with the historic pews would also remove the health and safety risk of people tripping over them.
The pews have been listed for sale in the parish magazine and on Facebook and will be collected by the buyers next week ahead of the work starting.
A row in the picturesque village has been sparked as angry parishioners defend their pews[/caption] Parishioners peek inside the locked church in Dorset[/caption] St Andrew’s Church in the Dorset village of Okeford Fitzpaine is a Grade II listed building[/caption]In the meantime an ugly row in the picturesque village has ensued, leading to claims and counter claims between the rector, Reverend Lydia Cook, and her parishioners.
They claim she has locked them out of the church as a result of their protests which have included a demonstration with banners reading ‘Save the pews from the devil within.’
Bishop of Salisbury, the Right Reverend Nicholas Holtam, is “fully supportive” of the changes.
Helen Sherwood Clinkard, a spokeswoman for the Save St Andrew’s Pews group. said: “There are about 1,000 people in Okeford Fitzpaine and I would have said three quarters of them are against what is happening.
“I was gobsmacked when I read some of the reasons for wanting rid of the pews.
“There have been weddings in that church for generations and to my knowledge there has never been an issue before about large people not being able to fit down the aisle.
Protesters held a demonstration with banners reading ‘Save the pews from the devil within’[/caption] The Parochial Church Council says doing away with the historic pews would also remove the health and safety risk of people tripping over them[/caption] Protesters claim the local rector has locked them out of the church as a result of their protests[/caption]Most read in UK News
“How is it that the human body is now so different to that of our great-great grandparents?
“I am 68 and I have been to that church most of my life. I have never seen or heard of anyone trip over one of the pews before.
“It all seems like a poor excuse to rip out the pews.”
A spokesperson for the Save St Andrew’s Pews group said three quarters of residents are against the scrapping of the pews[/caption]GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk