The pews of Long Itchington Church in Warwickshire are a sore point among congregants. They believe padded chairs would be a far more comfortable proposition than their old-fashioned benches. But according to Christian Today, a consistory court has rejected the request, believing it would be out of keeping with the medieval building.

It's not a problem generally for synagogues although the wooden seats of our oldest synagogue, Bevis Marks (above), can't be easy on praying posteriors.