The chancellor dismissed a petition to remove and sell pews from the north and south aisles of a Grade II* listed church. The petitioners' statement of needs said that there was a need to create flexible space to enable various styles of services to be conducted and, in particular, to allow the church to meet more flexibly the needs of families with young children; and that there was a further need for space for persons with impaired mobility, and for church and community groups to meet in the church during the week. It was not explained by the petitioners what types of services were contemplated that could not be accommodated by the present seating arrangements, how the removal of the pews would aid the needs of families with young children or those with impaired mobility (unless such persons were to be relegated to the aisles), or what church or community groups that did not currently use the church would use it if the pews were removed. As the removal of the pews would cause moderate harm to the listed building, the absence of clear and convincing justification for what was proposed meant that the petitioners could not demonstrate that the proposals would result in public benefit which would outweigh that harm. [Alexander McGregor]