A HIGH Court judge has been called into settle a dispute over the removal of 112-year-old wooden pews from an East Lancashire church.

Arguments between traditionalists and modernists at St Anne's Church, Fence, near Burnley, began when the former Vicar, the Reverend Norman Howard, and his supporters decided to remove two rows of ornate choir pews to make room for modern worship such as music groups, dance and drama.

The decision to take out the pews in May 1999 for a 12 month experimental period was agreed by a narrow majority on the Parochial Church Council (PCC) and supported by the Archdeacon of Blackburn.

Once that trial period was over the PCC applied for what is known as a faculty for approval to remove the pews permanently.

The future of the pews will be decided by a judge from Yorkshire at a special hearing known as a consistory court at the church on Saturday.

Local undertaker Colin Holgate, said: "We need to heal this rift in the church. It's not a church any more. It's just a big open stage. I'm unhappy about this 'happy clappy' arrangement."

A Blackburn Diocese spokesman said: "It's not the intention of those wanting change in the church to be insensitive but to enable the church to be more welcoming to its local community."

Mr Howard retired from the Church in April through ill health and has left the area. No replacement has been appointed.