Abbey Service Upset

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31236, 7 December 1966, Page 21

Abbey Service Upset

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) LONDON, Dec. 5.

The Dean of Westminster Abbey has caused an upset because he plans to hold a service for all religions at the Abbey on Human Rights Day, next Saturday.

Christians, Jews, Moslems, Hindus and Buddhists will be represented at the last major event of the Abbey’s 12-month commemoration of its consecration 900 years ago. Much of the 60-minute service will be passed in silent prayer, but at 10-minute intervals a representative of one of the faiths will read a passage.

There will be no spoken prayers, no music—only readings, meditation and silence.

Many Anglican churchmen are not happy about the proposed service. A similar service was held recently in St Martin-in-the Fields, Trafalgar square. The Lower House of the convocation of Canterbury, composed of clergy from all parts of Southern England, passed a resolution condemning such services. But Dean Eric Abbott is going ahead with plans for the service, which the Abbey clergy approved more than a year ago.

‘Royal Peculiar’ Because of the Abbey’s situation as “A Royal peculiar,” the Dean is responsible only to the Queen and not to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Primate of England. The “Church Times,” an Anglican publication, has protested: “The Westminster plan is a decision which must be deplored as certain to give rise to widespread disquiet and dismay to the church.” The “Church Times” said the service might “convey the impression to the world that

one religion is as good as another ... At a time when the Church of England is being urged by its leaders to accept officially authorised forms of service in the interests of restoring discipline, it is ironic

to find Westminster Abbey indulging in a mingle-mangle of religious worship like this.” “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations,” said Dean Abbott in reply.