17:51 Monday 7th December 2015
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire
STEVE JACKSON: Almost half of us now say we’re not religious, overtaking the number who say they’re Christians. But do our public institutions, the Monarchy, Parliament, schools reflect Britain’s diverse and secular values? Do we need a change from all of this?
(CHORAL MUSIC) (SERMON)
JUSTIN WELBY: … the new Queen, goes alone, not to the Coronation Chair, but past it: to kneel at the altar in prayer. Before her on the High Altar the words ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and Christ’.
STEVE JACKSON: Well that was the Archbishop of Canterbury officiating at the 60th anniversary service of the Queen’s coronation. But a major new report says our major institutions should take account of the more diverse nature of society in Britain, which is also less religious in many ways. A two year Commission on Religion in Public Life has come up with a list of recommendations, including a call for the Government to scrap the legal requirement for religious assemblies in state schools. The Chair of the Commission Baroness Butler-Sloss said they’re not trying to do down Christianity. They simply want to recognise the role of other faiths.
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