THERE were mixed feelings at a village church on Tuesday following a judgement on changes to its pews.

There had been much support and numerous objections to an application by the parochial church council to re-site and rebuild five pews at Holy Trinity church at Startforth, which led to the matter being referred to a consistory court last autumn.

The vicar, the Rev David Ryan, speaking on behalf of the PCC, said they were delighted by the judgement of the chancellor of the diocese, Judge Simon Grenfell, to grant the faculty.

"We are pleased he has made a thorough judgement and a very clear decision to grant the scheme," he said.

The decision means members will now be able to create an area for meetings and gatherings after services, which will also provide space for wheelchair-bound people, one of a number of measures being introduced to improve access for people with disabilities. In addition, Judge Grenfell's decision means more space will be created around the font.

Objectors had felt it inappropriate to uproot pews that had been installed in memory of loved ones.

But Judge Grenfell approved the plans to rebuild the pews into appropriate pieces of furniture for the church and to re-locate the plaques from those pews.

Mr Tony Liverseed, who represents some 100 protestors, said they were disappointed and upset: "I came to live here in 1937 when my father taught at Startforth, which was a church school, and I have worshipped at Holy Trinity since then," he said. "We have to accept the judgement as there is no other road we can go down, but I will not be attending again."