A QUESTION mark hangs over the long-standing custom of starting meetings of Warrington Borough Council with prayers.
Council chiefs are considering ways in which the custom could continue without breaking the law, following a court 
ruling that Bideford Town Council, in Devon, is breaking the law by opening their meetings with prayers.
Cllr Terry O’Neill (right), leader of Warrington Borough Council, said: “Unfortunately we have been advised that we cannot continue to include prayers on the formal agenda of our meeting as we have in the past.
“We must comply with the law. But we are discussing the issue to see if there is any way of complying without stopping having prayers.
“One way might be to have an informal gathering of councillors prior to the meeting, when prayers could be said. I am not saying this is what will happen. We have to consider the issue fully and when a decision has been made we will be making a statement.”
Prayers have been led by the Mayor’s Chaplain at Warrington for as long as anyone can remember – at full meetings of the present council and its predecessor authorities.
Over the years, a small number of councillors have remained outside the council chamber until after prayers. A number of Labour councillors currently do so.
Meanwhile, at Bideford, where the legal ruling was made, following action by a former councillor, an atheist, supported by the National Secular Society, the Town Council is considering an appeal against the High Court ruling.
They are consulting legal experts today (Thursday) and may appeal the decision before their next meeting on March 8.
It is possible the High Court ruling could be superceded by the Coalition Government’s Localism Bill.
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles believes the Localism Act would hand back the decision on whether to say, or not to say, prayers, to local authorities.
The decision to ban prayers at council meetings was given by Mr Justice Ouseley, who said: “The saying of prayers as part of the formal meeting of a council is not lawful under Section 111 of the Local Government Act 1972, and there is no statutory power permitting the practice to continue.”
Question mark over council prayers
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
7 Comments
They should stop this nonsense
I know there will be those who bleat on about the secularisation of society and christianity being part of our culture – including many who don’t even go to church. However, this is a meeting likely to involve people with differnet theologies, or none, and religion , which is a personal thing, has no place there.
If the councillors want to pray then there is nothing to stop them doing so , before they go into the meeting.
I am a believer but i do not feel that practices related to that belief should tacked on to a non-religious meeting.
It is decisions like this that are stripping our British Society of its character. WEho is this Judge to tell us what we can can’t do – it is simply his personal opinion. The more they make these kind of decisions the more we notice how out of touch they are with people. We are a Christian Country and this practice has taken place in Warrington for as long as anyone can remember. We will be told next to stop appointing a mayor’s Chaplain. Where are all the Christians in this Town. What have they got to say about this decision. I do hope that the leadership of our Town are brave enough tio carry on with this tradition.
“Who is this judge?” – answer’s in the question, when you think about it.
“His personal opinion” – based on the law, that’s what judges do.
“this practice has taken place in Warrington for as long as anyone can remember” – if it’s wrong it’s wrong , no matter how long it has gone on for
“Where are all the christians in this town” – surprisingly few in church, if we are a “christian country”.
Why should the minority impose this religious ceremony – the council chamber is a political setting , not a religious one.
If the prayers are christian based , then what about those of other faiths?
Let’s be honest until the recent court case and decision, based on UK legislation dating from before we joined the EU (so don’t play the euro card) very few knew that this outdated practice went on.
Atheists don’t seem to have much trouble celebrating Christmas or having Easter Monday and good Friday off.
Christmas (the traditional mid-winter festival) predates the birth of a middle eastern carpenter (which probably took place in the spring anyway) by many thousands of years. And I, for one, don’t get Easter off – it’s just another working day.
What are the councillors praying for? To be granted the ability to run the borough without making a mess of everything they touch????
Warrington Councillors could do with a bit of divine inspiration!!