Claims that Church buildings are a “resource for the whole community” falls at the first fence
By Terry Sanderson
Last month the English Heritage Lottery Fund announced that it would give £15.7 million to support the upkeep and repair of religious buildings around the country.
It was said at the time that the grants would not only pay for repair work but help the churches provide services for the local community such as a shops, crèches or an exhibition space. Since 2002, the lottery has paid out £123 million of grants to more than 1,000 historic places of worship.
This year, the money will mostly go towards Anglican churches. Dr Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage, said the money will help to make places of worship more useful to the whole community. He said: “Historic places of worship are at the heart of their communities. They give us beautiful public spaces where people can find peace or companionship, enjoy exhibitions and concerts or benefit from practical services such as post offices, shops, nurseries.”
But not, it seems, yoga or tai chi classes.
Last year a yoga class was banned from a Taunton church hall because the vicar thought it an “unchristian” practice. And last week a tai chi exercise class was banished from St Marks Church Hall, Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex after a rector decided its sessions were “inappropriate on Christian premises”.
Richard Odell, a professional tai chi instructor, who taught the class of 12 people, said: “We have been here for four years. It’s insulting and effectively saying the church is now not prepared to tolerate our presence. It’s ridiculous. What we are doing is not a religion; it is a Chinese martial art.”
So much for being a community resource for all, then, as — in the best spirit of ecumenism — the Church bans all potential rivals from its premises.
See also:
The Church of England’s “liberalism” is a myth it assiduously fosters