Archive - Originally posted on "The Horse's Mouth" - 2009-06-25 09:11:33 - Graham Ellis
With an interest in how the country, the county and the town is run, there are naturally times that I get invited to meetings and 'ceremonials', and so it was last Sunday, when I was invited to the Civic Service at the Church, to confirm the new Mayor into office (or rather to reconfirm Richard Wiltshire as ongoing Mayor).
I wish Richard all the very best in the continuing role. I think he does a great deal positive for Melksham. And I am delighted that his term has been extended for a further period, as an annual change in this role, though fair on the basis of "buggin's turn", means that by the time someone works into the role on an annual changeover, they're already close to the twilight of there term and something of a lame duck.
So I went along - both personally and to represent the Chamber of Commerce - to the service. And (personally) I felt an extreme disquiet at the words of the church service, at some of the things to say and sing as part of the proceedings. I don't think my views are unique, either; listening to others around me, their silence at certain of the more extreme mantras was notable. I have a great respect for many of the people who hold these views / follow these faiths, but I really don't think they should have a place in the ordinary political life of what is a very mixed (and proud to be such) community in Melksham.
I read in our local paper that our Vicar, who lead the service, will be moving to a new role in Cyprus soon - and perhaps when he goes I will have a more open mind and be able to accept Melksham's Church as a part of the community rather than its own community where on one hand it's established, or official, but on the other hand it excludes elements of the normal life of a town such as our. I have not forgotten the yoga ban, nor the time that the Vicar went through our house in our absence, lighting candles and saying prayers in each room at the request of a neighbour who we had trusted with a spare key. There were errors of judgement on both sides there - our trust of our then-new neighbour (since moved on) and on the side of the Vicar too.
Conclusion? I have no conclusion to these ramblings; I wish the Vicar all the best in his new role. I hope (for the people of his new parish) that he takes with him the experience and a more open approach that means that he can work with not only his own 'flock', but also the rest of the community around him who may well have a similar set of moral beliefs, but do not share his particular way of implementing them. And I look forward to seeing a new face with whom, I hope, the whole community can move on under the auspices of the established church, whether or not they are church members.