Storm of protest as prayers banned at Sevenoaks council meetings
PRAYERS have been banned at council meetings – sparking a storm of protest.
New chairman Dee Morris has chosen not to have a chaplain offer a blessing before Sevenoaks District Council meetings.
The town-hall tradition dates back to Elizabethan times.
Councillor Morris, a Christian, has decided not to follow her predecessor Bob Orridge, who had the Reverend Mark Griffin of St Luke's in Sevenoaks as chaplain.
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"The chairman before Cllr Orridge didn't have a chaplain," she explained.
"Cllr Orridge was particularly friendly with his local vicar so he chose to have one.
"Now I'm chairman I am not going to, like many other councils.
"It's because I am not particularly local.
"There's nothing ominous about it."
It comes after a High Court ruling that councils could not insist on prayers.
Fellow councillors have been left bemused by the decision.
Cllr Michael Horwood, who represents Eynsford, said: "Saying prayers before meetings has been a longstanding tradition and I am sorry we will not be continuing it.
"Although I respect the new chairman's decision I feel disappointed we've given up hundreds of years of tradition for the flimsical whim of the militant atheist 'pc brigade'."
Cllr Philip McGarvey, for Farningham, South Darenth and Horton Kirby said it was an example of "the tail wagging the dog".
"I am a practising Christian so I regret this decision.
"I am obliged to accept that the UK is no longer Christian by default. There are too many occasions when our Christian heritage is being undermined.
"Sadly we are instructed to accept that because a few might not want us to reaffirm our Christian ethos at a public meeting, then the rest of us cannot either.
"I would like to start meetings with a prayer, but we were not asked. It's the chairman's prerogative."
Church leaders were also unhappy.
Reverend Angus MacLeay from St Nicholas Church in Sevenoaks, said: "It would be great if there could be a chaplain.
"We value the work that is done by the district council and we want to pray for them and the wisdom in their decisions.
"I understand why people feel upset. It is always a concern if Christianity is being marginalised in a large society. It is good for Christians to be involved in prayer."
Mrs Morris has received support from some councillors.
Cllr Lorraine Stack, for Kemsing, said: "I fully support Mrs Morris."
"I was disappointed Anglican prayers were reintroduced, especially when I found out taxpayers' money pays for this 'service'."
Comments
by Jock07
Tuesday, May 29 2012, 5:48PM
“Councillors are paid by the public to work, not to pray. They can do that in their own time.
Astounding arrogance to even think that this sort of thing would be acceptable, especially in a multi-faith 21st century Britain.
There are many other traditions from Elizabethan times, such as deficating out of the window into the street, inequality of the sexes..etc.. shall we insist on continuing these activities in the name of tradition ?
What a joke.”
by TheRanter
Friday, May 25 2012, 7:30AM
“Storm of protest? Really? Shouldn't the headline (if there has to be one) read '2 or 3 people a bit disappointed that there won't be a chaplain appointed this year or prayers before council meetings'?
Keep religion to the church, the synagogue or the mosque. It should have no place in official public life in the 21st century.”
by alweekes
Thursday, May 24 2012, 1:43PM
“I am so glad that prayer isn't being used as a mechanism for decision making and forms no part of professional meetings such as these.
I have no problem with people's personal beliefs in magic, invisible beings or even fairies but they should not be forced onto others or form part of any part of rational, fact and evidence-based decision making, of the sort I trust our councillors engage in.
Andrew L. Weekes”