THE Rev Geoff Lloyd (Letters, January 28) makes some surprising statements supporting prayers at council meetings, suggesting that a clear majority of citizens of this country are convinced Christians who pray regularly.

If he studied the results of the latest British Social Attitudes Survey from 2008 he would see that whereas 50% of people considered themselves Christian, 43% said they had no religion. Only 23% called themselves Anglican and 62% said that they never went to church. Whereas only 7% said they were very religious and 30% somewhat religious, 22% said they were indifferent and 26% said they were very or extremely non-religious.

At the very least this implies that there is no consensus in society in our attitudes to religion and Christianity, and all the trends are towards secularism.

The last time I looked, it was not a requirement for councillors that they declare a belief in Christianity before putting themselves up for election, so why should they have to publicly pray to a God they may or not may not believe in?

If some councillors choose to say prayers or sing hymns or speak in tongues no-one should object at all, but to do so officially on council business is to presume an unwarranted unanimity of belief amongst the population at large. Most of us had more than enough of this kind of thing when we were at school. We don't have to put up with it when we go to work. Why should councillors be any different?

Kevin Eady

Glanville Road

Tavistock

I WRITE regarding last week's letter from the Rural Dean of Tavistock the Rev Geoff Lloyd. It was about the approach by the Secular Society and its dislike of prayers during council meetings and seeking change on the grounds that this particular issue inhibits people from standing for Local Government.

I would like to respectfully point out that these were not the views of the Leader of West Devon Borough Council as stated. The views expressed were in fact those of the Mayor of West Devon.

Personally, during my time as a member of the council, I have found the prayers before full council (seven times a year) have been an important time for reflection before the business of the day. It has also been thought provoking, with various ministers attending our meetings, and extremely engaging as they have sought to address the context of our calling as elected members. 

Cllr James McInnes

Leader of West Devon Borough Council

I WAS utterly appalled to read in your paper 'Meeting prayers' are intolerable, and even more disgusted to see the mayor of West Devon Alison Clish-Green supporting the move.

Surely, if prayers are not acceptable to certain members of the council, perhaps it is they that should leave the chamber and not the other way round. The last time I looked, we were still a Christian country.

June Pearce

Address supplied

AS an atheist voting for the councillors on West Devon Borough Council, I am offended by being likened to Mao Tse Tung, Stalin and indeed, Hitler (a Roman Catholic Christian, coincidentally) (Letters, January 29). I also object to being told I can like it or lump it, because this has been going on for a long time.

This is exactly why Christianity should be taken out of the council chamber. I don't wish to 'crush' Christianity,  If Christians wish to say prayers, they should be saying them in their own time and in their own church.

In the council chamber, our secular government should be attending to the business of governing (the reason we voted for them).

I also want my councillors to be personally accountable. I am assuming that if their deity 'misguides' them in any decision, that they are still personally accountable for that decision.

Recent statistics show that Christians are no longer the majority in England and I would prefer my representatives, rather than praying for guidance, were using their brains to get the job done.

Assuming, of course, that it doesn't take 'divine inspiration' to realise that they have to grit the pavements when they are two inches thick with ice, so people can get to work and the elderly can get into town, rather than wait until it gets so bad, that we get mentioned on the local TV news.

Jam Gibson Whitchurch

THE Rev Lloyd gives a robust, even aggressive defence of prayers before council meetings.

He admits a reduction in church membership, surely evidence of failure by the clergy. But he does not appear to relate this to a widespread indifference to all religion.

Nor does he distinguish between private worship — prayers before bed — and public affirmation of faith in the company of the indifference faction that may well be the majority of those present. He must abhor the very thought of disestablishment of his branch of religion in this country.

Live and let live has never been the attitude of militants of any persuasion and in this, Mr Lloyd has an affinity with those he seeks to castigate.

G Kirkpatrick

Tavistock