Historic pews were taken out of church for play area

VICTORIAN pews were ripped out of a 14th century church to make way for a children’s area.

The seating, designed by George Street, the prominent architect, was illegally removed from Our Lady of Bloxham in 2011 for a display and welcome area where children could play.

Christopher Rogers, deputy chancellor of the diocese of Oxford, called the decision “highly unfortunate, to put it mildly”. Seven pews were taken out without permission, he said.

In a consistory court judgment he said the Grade I listed church had been described by Sir Nikolaus Pevsner, the art historian, as “one of grandest churches in the country”.

Mr Rogers granted retrospective permission but ruled that parts of four pews should be returned to the church.

“Removal of some pews was necessary … to remain a sustainable place of worship and in this case the harm caused to the church’s architectural and historical significance is outweighed by the resulting public benefit,” he said.