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Thou Shalt not smoke!

Date Added: Tuesday 26th June 2007

In all my 77 years I have never seen or heard of anyone smoking in church. The edict demanding 'no smoking' signs in churches, is therefore, bureaucratic madness and an abandonment of common sense.

The answer is for all churches to refuse to post these ridiculous notices - the authorities can hardly prosecute tens of thousands of churches, and if they tried would be laughed out of court.

Anyone concerned about taking part in an act of collective civil disobedience should heed the words of the late and great Douglas Bader who, with his Battle of Britain comrades, did so much to keep our country free. He said, 'Rules were made for the blind obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men'. If ever a rule cried out for the Douglas Bader treatment, this is it.

Gerry Hanson
Iver Heath, Bucks

Comments
I WAS amused at the indignation shown in the June issue because churches have to display 'no smoking' signs. Many years ago, when my wife was a guide at Oxford's Cathedral, a man came in smoking a cigarette. Politely, Carol asked him to put it out whereupon, with some insolence, he looked all around and said 'I cannot see any 'No Smoking' signs.' This will not happen again!
Brian Foster, Shrivenham	24th August 2007

Sorry, if the law says do it, then done it ought to be. We are an established church, and have our duties towards that establishment. Let us save our revolutions and disobedience for something more worthy of our time and effort - like doing the job that God has given us.
Bob Saunders	1st July 2007

Of course no-one objects to signs in cathederals asking for donations, or signs asking people not to sit or climb on old monuments or go up the stairs etc. In fact many churches are dotted with signs, what's another one? Why is this the issue on which the church is being urged to be disobedient. It reminds me of a rebelious child picking something insignificant to protest about, out of fear for tackling the real injustices. Steve
Steve S	29th June 2007

Unfortunately people do sometimes attempt to smoke in church - at baptisms and weddings particularly when numbers of non-churchgoers turn up. But a polite word is the answer, not a government notice on the mediaeval door!
David Cohen	27th June 2007

I believe that the Church has to be very careful on this issue. Many churches today, and the Anglican Communion is no exception, do not follow the teachings of Christ and the “rules” laid down by God as revealed to us in Scripture. All too often the church is relaxing its moral stance to come into line with the thinking of the day and not therefore preserving a moral position in society – a society where increasingly “everything goes”. Where does the church stand today on such things as divorce, sexuality, abortion? The church is no longer the pillar of morality with a clear teaching on loving ones neighbour, living by the teaching of Jesus and his close followers. Given the stance of the church today – people coming in and not seeing the required notice will assume that this is the one public place in the county where they smoking is ALLOWED.
Robert Cuin	27th June 2007

Three cheers for the letter on no smoking notices in churches! As a QQ Inspecting architect for the Diocese over many years, should I now recommend ash trays in the south porches or the provision of sheltered facilities in the churchyard for those who want a quick drag on a fag. Lets all fight the law and see what Mr Brown then has to say!!!!
Nick Whiteley	27th June 2007

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