UK councils – Britain’s smallest unit of local government – have been forced to reconsider the longstanding tradition of holding prayer before formal meetings due to a seminal court ruling in favor of the National Secular Society.
Justice Ouseley made the landmark ruling declaring that Bideford council in Devon (South-West England) had no statutory powers to hold prayers during local government meetings.
Nearly 50% of all UK councils are reported to hold prayer sessions as a part of all formal proceedings. In Bideford council’s case, who receives financial support from the Christian Institute, all prayers were included in meeting minutes.
Clive Bone, a former local Bideford councilor, made a formal complaint about praying during official meetings and was subsequently supported by the National Secular Society to bring to court.
The ruling cited, “A local authority has no powers under section 111 of the Local Government Act 1972 to hold prayers as part of a formal local authority meeting or to summon councilors to such a meeting at which prayers are on the agenda. The saying of prayers in a local authority chamber before a formal meeting of such a body is lawful provided councilors are not formally summoned to attend.”
National Secular Society Chief Executive Keith Porteous Wood applauded the court’s decision, “We are delighted that the court has decided to make a ringingly secular decision, which will make the saying of prayers of whatever religion unlawful in local councils. This will mean no one will be disadvantaged or feel uncomfortable in performing their duties as a councilor in meetings.”
The Christian Institute did not share the National Secular Society’s enthusiasm, “The practice of saying prayers at Bideford town council meetings is understood to date back to the days of Queen Elizabeth I. The council has, recently, twice voted in support of continuing with the prayers. Individual councilors were free to not take part in the prayers if they wished, and the register of attendance was not taken until after the prayers had finished.”
Simon Calvert, spokesman for the Christian Institute, said, “We welcome the finding that the saying of prayers isn't discriminatory, or a breach of equality laws, or human rights laws. But it is extraordinary to rule that councils have no lawful authority to choose, if they so wish, to start their formal meetings with prayers. That is simply wrong. The logic of the ruling is that councils would also be going beyond the law if they took a vote and decided to start each formal council meeting with the national anthem.”
Bone said he was ‘delighted’ with the court’s decision as he was horrified when he became a councilor in 2007 to find prayers taking place during official government business. He said, “It was outdated, antiquated and a turnoff.”
Bone twice led motions trying to remove prayer from council meetings – both times he was defeated. He argues that prayer and local democracy do not mix, “It sends out a signal that local governments are for particular types of people and not for everyone.”
Tony Inch, a councilor who supports prayers during government proceedings said the ruling was a shock and a shame for Britain. “We seem to be going from one crisis to another. It has implications for councils up and down the country. Where is it going to end? It's eroding the whole basis of Christian life in this country.”
Reverend Michael Langrish, the bishop of Exeter, Devon, said he will encourage councils to combat the ruling by continuing to say prayers at official meetings but before all statutory business begins. He added that it was a shame that “a tiny minority are seeking to ban the majority” from praying. “I've got no doubt the agenda of the National Secular Society is inch by inch to drive religion out of the public sphere. If they get their way, it will have enormous implications for prayers in parliament, Remembrance Day, the jubilee celebrations, even the singing of the national anthem.”
Lagrish continued, “The wider issue has got to be resisted. It strikes right at the heart of our understanding of ourselves as a society. No one is compelled to participate in these activities. There is complete freedom. That freedom has to be respected.”
Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Cantebury (i.e. the leader of the Church of England) said that he will rally Christian leaders to fight this ruling that he believes holds so many far reaching implications for Britain’s identity as a Christian country. “These legal rulings may also mean army chaplains could no longer serve, and that the coronation oath, in which the King or Queen pledges to maintain the laws of God and the lessons contained in the gospels, would need to be abolished. This is a truly terrifying prospect. It is clear that these sensitive matters can no longer be left in the hands of judges. It is time for the government to act – both to amend local authority legislation, letting local councils themselves decide whether they want to continue the time-honored custom of saying prayers, and, more broadly, to protect the Christian traditions on which the country is founded.”
Some argue whether or not Britain can still be considered a Christian country. Indeed, it was founded as such, but 21st century Britain is a place that is home to a multitude of religions and cultures that simply do not participate in Christianity.
Yet, the second largest religious group in the UK is Islam, which comprises fewer than 3% of the population.
Porteous Wood of the National Secular Society argued, “There is no longer a respectable argument that Britain is a solely Christian nation, or even a religious one. An increasing proportion of people are not practicing any religion, and minority faiths are growing in number and influence…”
Christianity is Britain’s history, but is it Britain’s future?