No more Muslim prayer services in churches, says bishop

From Ruth Gledhill (the last dedicated Religion journalist in Fleet Street until the Times axed her post last year) writing in Christianity Today

A bishop has investigated the Muslim prayer service that took place in Church of England building in London and has pledged that no such service will take place again. The vicar, Canon Giles Goddard, today apologised for the “great consternation” and for “any offence” caused by the event.

The Bishop of Southwark, Christopher Chessun, had earlier asked the Bishop of Kingston, Richard Cheetham, to “investigate fully” the service at St John’s Church Waterloo earlier this month.

“The Bishop of Southwark takes very seriously his responsibility to uphold the teaching of the Church and to work within its framework of legislation and guidance. It is quite clear that Islamic prayer should not take place in a consecrated building,” said a spokesman for the Southwark diocese.

Bishop Chessun said: “The Bishop of Kingston has, at my request, now met with the Vicar of St John, Waterloo to discuss the Inclusive Mosque event which took place at St John, Waterloo on 6 March. Whilst it is very important to build good interfaith relations, it is clear that an act of worship from a non-Christian faith tradition is not permitted within a consecrated Church of England building. . .”

George Conger on the blog AnglicanInk described how the “jummah” had been held at St John’s with the permission of Canon Goddard and organised by the Inclusive Mosque Initiative. The service was led by a woman imam and Canon Goddard read from Psalm 139: “Let us celebrate our shared traditions, by giving thanks to the God that we love, Allah.”

Images and iconography of the Virgin Mary, Jesus and the stations of the cross were covered over during the event, which was videoed and appeared online. As a result of complaints, Canon Goddard met with Bishop Cheetham who is also Anglican president of the Christian Muslim Forum.

Dr Gerald Bray, director of research at the Latimer Trust at Oak Hill Theological College in London said on Facebook: “The simple truth is that Islam is the only major world religion that is explicitly anti-Christian. The Buddha, for example, could not have known anything about Jesus and did not develop his ideas in contrast to Christ. Muhammad, on the other hand, knew about Christians and Jews and could easily have become one or the other himself. Instead, he concocted his own religion based on elements of Judaism and Christianity and regarded it is the culmination (perfection) of both. You could say that Islam is related to Christianity in much the same way as Mormonism is, but this does not constitute ‘a common tradition’.”

Canon Andrew Stevens, of St Nicholas, Plumstead said Anglicans knew Jesus was “the unique and final revelation of God”. Covering up the symbols of salvation, in order not to offend or to allow others to worship, was an act of “sacrilege” he added and it was especially an “affront” because it was done by a priest.

Fr Martin Hislop, of St Luke’s, Kingston, said: “At a time when Christian men, women and children are being slaughtered in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Nigeria and elsewhere for their belief in the unique salvation delivered by Christ Crucified it is a scandal and an offence that a clergyman of the Church of England should embrace an act of islamic worship in a consecrated building dedicated to the glory of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”

Southwark is known as a liberal diocese. If even the liberals have drawn the line I have no doubt that Bishop Christopher’s direction will be noted nationwide.