-15/9/03
It has emerged that a senior Church of England figure intervened to prevent the forthcoming service of remembrance for the Iraq war at St Paul’s Cathedral being billed as a thanksgi
-15/9/03
It has emerged that a senior Church of England figure intervened to prevent the forthcoming service of remembrance for the Iraq war at St Paul’s Cathedral being billed as a thanksgiving for victory.
The dean of St Paul’s, John Moses, said he raised concerns after Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon told Parliament in July that the service would “give thanks for the role UK forces played in ending tyranny in Iraq”.
At an early stage in planning for the October 10 event, he told MoD representatives the church would be unhappy with any suggestion that the event was a form of victory parade, and it was agreed the word “thanksgiving” would not be used on invitations.
He said: “We made it quite plain that for us the service could only include remembrance of those who had died in battle, and prayers for the people of Iraq and for peace.
“The Secretary of State’s statement spoke of a service of thanksgiving, as well as remembrance, and at the first planning meeting I challenged the appropriateness of that.
Anything which gave the impression of a victory parade seemed to us to be totally inappropriate.
“That was accepted by the MoD and I understand the invitations are now speaking of a service of remembrance, which we are happy with.”
The MoD denies there has been any row with the church over the issue, and said that Mr Hoon had not been involved in discussions about the service.
A spokesman said: “There is no question of this being a triumphalist event. Our relations with St Paul’s have been close and amicable.”
“Both sides are in total agreement over how the service will be conducted and we are quite happy with what has been agreed.”
-15/9/03
It has emerged that a senior Church of England figure intervened to prevent the forthcoming service of remembrance for the Iraq war at St Paul’s Cathedral being billed as a thanksgiving for victory.
The dean of St Paul’s, John Moses, said he raised concerns after Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon told Parliament in July that the service would “give thanks for the role UK forces played in ending tyranny in Iraq”.
At an early stage in planning for the October 10 event, he told MoD representatives the church would be unhappy with any suggestion that the event was a form of victory parade, and it was agreed the word “thanksgiving” would not be used on invitations.
He said: “We made it quite plain that for us the service could only include remembrance of those who had died in battle, and prayers for the people of Iraq and for peace.
“The Secretary of State’s statement spoke of a service of thanksgiving, as well as remembrance, and at the first planning meeting I challenged the appropriateness of that.
Anything which gave the impression of a victory parade seemed to us to be totally inappropriate.
“That was accepted by the MoD and I understand the invitations are now speaking of a service of remembrance, which we are happy with.”
The MoD denies there has been any row with the church over the issue, and said that Mr Hoon had not been involved in discussions about the service.
A spokesman said: “There is no question of this being a triumphalist event. Our relations with St Paul’s have been close and amicable.”
“Both sides are in total agreement over how the service will be conducted and we are quite happy with what has been agreed.”