We don't think religious worship should play any part in the formal business of the state.
We want to see parliamentary and local government meetings conducted in a manner equally welcoming to all attendees, whatever their personal beliefs.
Parliamentary prayers
Sittings in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords begin with Anglican prayers. MPs and peers stand for prayers facing the wall behind them – a practice thought to have developed due to the difficulty members would historically have faced of kneeling to pray while wearing a sword.
When the chamber is at its busiest, parliamentary prayers act as a bizarre and antiquated seat reservation system. Even MPs and peers who are slated to speak have no option but to attend prayers in order to reserve a seat.
Whilst they may be viewed by some as an important tradition, parliamentary prayers serve to assert the superiority of Christianity (and the Church of England in particular) at Westminster. This 'tradition' is inimical to a modern, pluralistic, secular democracy.
In the Scottish Parliament, Tuesday afternoon sessions begin with 'Time for Reflection', with faith and belief representatives invited to addresses members for up to four minutes. The Northern Ireland Assembly begins formal business with a period of two minutes of silent prayer or contemplation. The Welsh Assembly has adopted no such rituals.
Parliamentarians who wish to pray are free to do so. But prayers should not form part of the official business of Parliament.
Council prayers
Many local authorities in Britain also begin their meetings with prayer.
Local democracy should be equally welcoming to all sections of society, regardless of their religion or belief. Council meetings should be conducted without anyone feeling excluded, or compelled to either participate in prayers or absent themselves from part of the meeting.
Council prayers open the door to wholly unnecessary conflict and sectarian squabbles within local authorities. There is a history of local councillors being bullied and marginalised for challenging council prayers.
The absence of prayers from the formal business of meetings in no way impedes religious freedoms or denies anybody the right to pray. Conversely, organised worship in secular settings imposes worship on those who do not share the faith. A genuine commitment to freedom of religion or belief is incompatible with including acts of worship in the formal business of council meetings.
If local authorities wish to hold a moment of silent reflection at the beginning of a meeting, or if councillors wish to meet for prayers prior to the meeting, they are at liberty to do so.
Take action!
1. Write to your MP
Please enter your postcode and urge your MP to support an alternative to parliamentary prayers, to make parliament more welcoming to people of all faiths and none.
2. Share your story
Tell us why you support this campaign, and how you are personally affected by the issue. You can also let us know if you would like assistance with a particular issue - for example, if you would like to challenge prayers at your own council.
3. Join the National Secular Society
Become a member of the National Secular Society today! Together, we can separate religion and state for greater freedom and fairness.
Latest updates
Prayers scrapped at Bridgnorth Town Council meetings
Posted: Fri, 20 May 2016 07:46
A town council in Shropshire has voted to drop prayers from its meetings over concerns that the imposition of prayer was putting people off from attending.
Bridgenorth council voted to scrap Christian prayers after councillors said they fear they are putting off the public and discouraging potential new councillors of no faith or of another faith from coming forward.
The motion was tabled by former mayor Edward Marshall, who argued "By saying prayers at council meetings we are, as a group of people, essentially imposing our beliefs on others."
The council was split on the issue, but the motion passed on the casting vote of current mayor Valerie Voysey, who said she was "willing to be unpopular".
"I think prayers are a personal thing," Councillor Voysey said.
"I am willing to be unpopular on it. I am not anti-religion, I just think it's a private thing and I don't think it has to be part of our meetings."
In a paper explaining the rationale for dropping prayers, circulated prior to the meeting, Councillor Marshall said members of the public and guests who attend a council meeting for the first time were "surprised that everyone stands for prayers".
"In Britain anyone is allowed to have and follow any religious believes they desire, and that includes the option of having no religious beliefs. Christians always have the option of saying prayers publicly and collectively in church, chapel and other meeting rooms, or in private at any time."
"Over the last few decades, Britain has become a much more multi faith society."
"Whilst it is probably true that a majority of the population are not too concerned about saying prayers at meetings, would this still be the case if one of the minority religions imposed its own form of worship on to Council meetings. Probably not."
But the decision to drop prayers was attacked by Councillor David Cooper who said he had had his "ear bitten off" by residents who thought it was "atrocious" that such a move had even been considered.
The move was however welcome by the National Secular Society which congratulated the Council on its "principled decision".
Stephen Evans, National Secular Society campaigns director, said: "It's good to see local councils recognising that local politics should be equally welcoming to all sections of society.
"Everyone has the right to manifest their religion, but that shouldn't extend to allowing believers to impose acts of worship on those that do not share their faith."
Religious ceremonies exclude non-Christians and the non-religious, says councillor
Posted: Wed, 10 Feb 2016 12:20
A local councillor has called on Ross-on-Wye town council to move away from religious events and to embrace inclusive, secular ceremonies – warning that current arrangements alienate non-Christians.
Cost saving measures considered by Ross-on-Wye included a proposal to scrap a non-religious mayor making ceremony, while retaining a civic service held in a local church.
The civic service is typically held in St Mary's Church but the plans prompted opposition from one councillor who argued that the non-religious ceremony should be retained instead of the church-based service.
Councillor Jane Roberts, who is on the Finance Committee of Ross-on-Wye town council, said the existing civic service alienates non-Christians and the non-religious.
"I worry about the civic service. I think it excludes people, such as myself, who are not practising members of the Church of England."
"The civic service perpetuates the links between the church and state within the town."
Councillor Roberts said there was an "important matter of principle" at stake in the discussions.
"I personally believe that this country would be better placed if the church was disestablished and a proper separation between church and state," she added.
After Councillor Robert's intervention, the town council decided to keep both events rather than just the religious one, and an amendment was passed ensuring that both the civic service in the church and the non-religious mayor making ceremony do not run over their budgets.
National Secular Society spokesperson Benjamin Jones welcomed Councillor Roberts' comments. "It's good to see increasing numbers of councillors arguing for local government to be secular. The Government is keen to see religion promoted in councils, but it's clear that many councillors and voters do not think religion should have a special role in the business of local authorities."
In 2015 the Local Government (Religious etc. Observances) Act was passed, despite a campaign by the National Secular Society and its honorary associates in parliament, which allowed local authorities in England to "facilitate" religious events.
The legislation was primarily aimed at overturning a High Court order which ruled that the practise of having prayers during council meetings was unlawful, but the Act also made provision for local authorities to engage in a variety of religious activities.
Local authorities in England may now "support or facilitate" a "religious event", an "event with a religious element" or an "an event connected with a religious or philosophical belief".
The legislation covers a range of local authorities from town councils and the London Assembly to joint waste authorities and internal drainage boards.
