A SHORTAGE of available vicars has sparked a new policy at meetings of Tavistock Town Council. Full meetings of the council, always held on a Tuesday, are normally preceded by prayers ? but finding someone to lead them is becoming a problem. Town clerk Roger Howard said: ?Now John Rawlings, the vicar of Tavistock, has gone, his replacement cannot do Tuesday evenings, the Whitchurch vicar is on a sabbatical, the Roman Catholic priest has mass on Tuesdays so it only leaves Geoff Moles (Methodist minister) and he can?t do it every time. ?There is also the matter of whether or not in a multi-faith society we should be having Christian prayers.? Cllr Ted Sherrell said he could see ?absolutely nothing wrong? with inviting leaders from religions other than the Anglican church. ?I think it?s a splendid way forward,? he said. Cllr Alison Clish-Green said the town council was one of the few which still incorporated prayers as part of its meetings. ?An awful lot of councils have them as a separate thing and if people want to go to them ten minutes earlier than the meeting, they do. I feel that politics and religion shouldn?t be lumped together, I don?t like it being part of the council meeting.? Cllr Jane Ramsey said: ?I am actually not a Christian but this is a Christian country still and this is a Christian town ? I think we are in danger of being politically correct. ?This is a lovely town council and I would personally support keeping some form of benediction over the council?s work ? I just feel it?s very easy to throw away traditions.? New town mayor Cllr Caroline Keane said: ?People have differing beliefs in our council and I think it?s very important to take that into account. ?We could approach representatives from other religious orders, or councillors themselves could do a poem or prayer that means something to them.? The mayor asked if councillors could inform her in advance if they wished to speak or say a prayer at the beginning of council meetings, in the absence of a vicar. Leaders of any faith in the Tavistock area who would like to speak at the beginning of council meetings on the first Tuesday of the month, should contact town clerk Roger Howard on 01822 613529.
