WE would like to draw attention to the public notice posted outside All Saints Church regarding an application for a faculty to remove all the pews and replace with chairs.

This notice also appeared in this week’s Journal and incorrectly gave Thursday, January 9, as the date for the Diocesan Registrar to receive objections. It is in fact Tuesday, January 14.

All Saints is at the centre of Evesham’s heritage and is one of the most beautiful churches in Worcestershire, visited and admired by a vast number of people, but also valued as a quiet place of prayer and reflection throughout the week.

Sadly, a declining congregation has led the parochial church council to think that the only way forward is to turn the building into a flexible multi-function space, even though the pews are movable and already give a certain amount of flexibility.

The design of chair chosen (at great cost) is a wooden stackable chair with chrome runners – not exactly in keeping with its surroundings and even less comfortable than the pews, and with no facilities for books, kneelers etc.

These plans are the first of many to completely change and modernise the interior of All Saints, including a change of worship styles based on ‘in the round’ rather than in rows facing east.

How do the townspeople feel? Will these changes actually encourage more people to use the church?

Should the church be spending such large sums of money on this venture at a time of austerity and falling incomes when it should be doing more to reach out to those in need?

Three-quarters of the congregation have signed a petition against these proposals and this is the only, and last, chance the people of Evesham will be able to put forward their point of view.

If you have strong objections, or suggestions, please make them known to the Diocesan Registrar at 8 Sansome Walk, Worcester, WR1 1LW before the above date.

JOHN AND JOYCE DOYLE PIP AND PIPPA HODGES SUE HOPKINS

MERRY PRIVETT

Members of All Saints
congregation