Outrage as Anglican vicar drops 'not multicutural enough' Remembrance Sunday service
Pastor Dale Morgan
Outrage as Anglican vicar drops 'not multicutural enough' Remembrance
Sunday service*
By ANDREW LEVY Last updated at 22:00pm on 28th October 2006
For decades, smartly dressed veterans and servicemen and women in Wood
Green, north London, have proudly packed their parish church for the
traditional Remembrance Sunday service.
But this year there will be no such solemn ceremony at St Michael's -
because the vicar felt it was not multicultural enough.
Father Colin Coppen decided it was unfair on non-Anglicans to make them
attend a church of England service.
Instead he has decreed that soldiers who fought and died for their
country will only be remembered during Parish Mass.
If the borough wants to remember its fallen than it should do so outside
the church, he says.
The decision was yesterday branded 'disgusting' by members of the Royal
British Legion and parishioners, while non-Anglican groups said it was
completely unnecessary.
Wood Green RBL chairman Bob King, 68, said:"It's disgusting. That man
would not be a vicar if it wasn't for the sacrifices of people who gave
their lives for us.
"Hitler and the Germans would be marching across Britain in their jackboots.
"A lot of people like to go to the service - various organisations, as
well as individuals.
"In the 1940s and long after the war, we were still a Church of England
country and it is still a Church of England church.
"It's all right to have all these faiths but, after all, we are all
praying to the same God and they should hold the normal service."
He added: "There's not many ex-servicemen left but everyone goes on
about looking after minorities these days, so what about us?"
Jean Gotts, a leading member of the nearby Hornsey branch of the Royal
British Legion, said: "It's not any one particular religious observance.
"It is for people to remember those who lost lives in all wars and I
feel these people should be remembered."
A parishioner who asked not to be named said : "I have lived here all my
life and we have always had the service.
"Families should have somewhere to go and quietly reflect and remember
what happened."
The Muslim Council of Britain said it had "absolutely" no objection to
Muslims attending Remembrance Sunday services.
"The MCB has attended services and been represented at the annual
ceremony at the Cenotaph," a spokeswoman said.
Around 100 Royal British Legion members attended the service at St
Michael's Anglican Church last year, along with other faith groups and
members of the community.
This year they will have to make do with the traditional open-air
service at the local war memorial followed by Parish Mass.
Father Coppen is understood to have taken action in the hope the council
would be forced to devise a more "inclusive" form of commemoration.
"This allows the borough council to think how it wants to express and
celebrate the contribution that worldwide cultures made to the victory
in two world wars without feeling that it necessarily has to conform to
the state religion," he said.
However, the Church of England said it supported Remembrance Sunday
services.
A spokesman said: "The Church of England remains fully behind them but
it is his church and his decision what services take place there.
"If anyone has a problem with it they can always talk to the diocese
about it or go to another church."
A Haringey Council spokesman said: "The service has always had
representation from different faith groups and communities in the borough.
"We were more than happy to have the service in the church but Father
Coppen said he was unable to accommodate us this year."