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Holy smoke

by Lisa Gray
30/ 4/2008

AN UNHOLY row has broken out between the clergy and the council over the sanctity of Sunday services.

It has been claimed that the right for churchwardens to enjoy their prayers in peace went up in holy smoke.

Two Heywood vicars say that officers from Rochdale Council interrupted Sunday services at both St Margaret’s and St James’ CE churches last month, under orders to check that they were displaying the correct no-smoking signage.

The council have insisted that officers are not allowed to interrupt services and underlined that, as in the case of all public buildings, it has a right to ensure steps are being taken to prevent smoking in churches.

However, members of the clergy say the checks were taken during services and they are ‘annoyed’ because of the ‘disrespectful’ way in which the action was taken.

At St Margaret’s Church, it was claimed that two enforcement officers asked churchwardens to leave the church at 10.45am, to conduct a survey about the no-smoking signage, which the church had correctly put in place.

The vicar, the Rev Maureen Read, said: "I didn’t actually notice until after the service, because I was leading it at the time.But the two wardens in question told me afterwards that they were concentrating on their worship when they were interrupted and asked to go outside to talk about the no-smoking rules.

"They were understandably quite annoyed and so was I to be honest. We have absolutely no problem in complying with the council’s rules. But the way in which the checks were carried out seems very disrespectful. They could at least have waited until after the service or made an appointment.  I am in the church every day and would be happy to have shown them."

Later that morning, the officers are said to have interrupted the Sunday service at St James’ to conduct the same checks.

Rev Lesley Reading said: "Obviously it is the wardens’ responsibility to deal with anyone who comes into the back of the church and they are normally happy to do so.

"To be honest I thought it was rude. They have been told to come in on Sundays when the churches are open and it was over in seconds, but to disrupt the service is very disrespectful.  They might not have known they were interrupting the service as it was at the back of the church, but the congregation nearby certainly would have been disturbed."

Gary Parkinson from Rochdale Council’s Smoke Free team said that there had been no official complaints about services being interrupted.

He said: "All businesses and public areas have to be checked to make sure they are complying with the updated legislation on smoking.  Under no circumstances do council officers interrupt church services.  If a service is taking place, officers will wait until after the service or leave a letter to the Church know that they will call again."

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