A memorial church lamp, which sparked a row after it was taken down, is to be put back - on bishop's orders.

The row erupted after John Halls found the lamp commemorating the diocese jubilee year in 1964 in Walton Church had been taken down and put away in a garage.

Churchwarden David Willis had said it was felt the lamp had no meaning in the modern church.

But Mr Halls, whose family presented the lamp, was angry and complained to the church authorities and now the lamp is being put back.

The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev John Gladwin, said: "What we do have are some rules which the Archdeacon sees are kept. They prevent any changes being made without proper permission so items may not be removed at the say so of others. "

The light had been put up in memory of Mr Halls' great-grandfather Frank Halls, a former churchwarden for more than 35 years, and his wife, Hannah.

Mr Halls was delighted with the new decision: "I am very pleased that the church has seen sense."

More in today's Evening Gazette

Published Tuesday, March 1, 2005

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette