A faculty was sought for the re-ordering of the chancel area of this Grade I listed mediaeval church, which included the removal of a Bodley and Garner chancel screen. The screen was added to the church in 1897, in honour of the 2nd Viscount Hardinge. The application was supported unanimously by the parochial church council and the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) in the interests of enabling the vicar to see the congregation, enhancing worship and extending the range of activities and services that could take place in the church. No objections were raised by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings or the Church Buildings Council but the Victorian Society objected and was joined as a Party Opponent.

The chancellor accepted the evidence of the petitioners, archdeacon and church architect as to the needs of the parish, which were being obstructed by the screen. He rejected the evidence of the Victorian Society as highly partisan and ignorant of the needs of the church. In applying the principles in Re St Alkmund, Duffield the chancellor noted that removal of the screen would not cause harm to the historic significance of the church, which had existed as a mediaeval building long before the screen was erected. The screen was not mentioned in the listing entry. Even if it was deemed that some harm would be caused by removing the screen, this would not be significant as it was not integral to the church's architecture and could be easily removed. The needs of the parish outweighed the status quo of retaining the screen. It was accepted by all parties that the screen was not without worth and there were plans for it to be relocated to the parish of Hallaton in Leicestershire. If that had not been achieved within two years then the screen should go into appropriate storage agreed with Rochester DAC or, failing that, approved by the court. [Catherine Shelley]