Council ponders prayers shift
PRAYERS at the start of a Yorkshire council’s meetings could be abandoned under controversial plans drawn up by a leading member of the authority.
Coun John Clark, the Liberal group’s leader on Ryedale District Council and an agnostic, wants the long-running practice discontinued and instead for prayers to be held before council meetings in a separate room. He said: “In a modern world where there are people from a wide range of religions to focus on one – Christianity – does not seem appropriate.”
Canon John Manchester of Malton claimed the plans were “a retrograde step”.
Coun Clark’s motion is due to be debated at next Monday’s council meeting.