Calls for a UK Islamic calendar as Eid al Fitr falls on two days
Eid al Fitr which marks the end of Ramadan will be celebrated on two different days in the UK this year. It takes place after the new crescent moon has been sighted, but poor visibility means it has not been seen in the UK or Morocco, often relied upon for moon sightings, so some mosques are waiting and postponing the end of Ramadan to Saturday. However, it has been seen in Saudi Arabia, and the majority of mosques which rely on Saudi sightings will go ahead with the festival on Friday, including Cambridge, East London and London Central Mosque. Bradford and Leeds are waiting til Saturday. The confusion has led to renewed calls for Muslims in Britain to create a national moon sighting body that can determine the correct date for everyone in the country, as is the model in many Muslim countries. The New Crescent Society has explained that local sightings are already taking place around Britain this year and it is working towards a united Islamic calendar in the UK.
Communities built in spectacular Open Iftars during Ramadan 2023
An Open Iftar in Trafalgar Square last night ended an extraordinary month where thousands of people joined in the breaking of the daily Ramadan fast at British landmarks such as the Royal Albert Hall, the British Library and Coventry Cathedral. Smaller community iftars have sprung up all over the country in shopping malls, workplaces and community spaces. The aim of the overall initiative, run by the Ramadan Tent Project, which this year celebrates its 10th anniversary, is “turning strangers into friends” and organisers are optimistic that the iftars have the potential for building many more bridges between people. Read Lianne Kolirin’s report on our website here
Canada changes title of King, dropping “defender of the faith”
The Canadian government is changing the title of King Charles from his mother’s “Queen Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom, Canada and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith”, to “Charles the Third, by the Grace of God King of Canada and His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth.” The new title drops references to Defender of the Faith, and to the United Kingdom. It was written within a budget implementation bill published this week. The Canadian Broadcasting Company quotes Annie Cullinan, director of communications for the King’s Privy Council: “As we prepare for the coronation of the new monarch, a decision was made to modernize the title to bring Canada in line with other Commonwealth countries, including Australia”.
Leather and gold leaf Bible on which to swear the coronation oath
The Archbishop of Canterbury has received the specially commissioned King James Bible that will be presented to King Charles III during the coronation service at Westminster Abbey on 6 May. The tradition of presenting a coronation Bible to the monarch goes back more than 300 years and King Charles will place his hand upon it when he takes the coronation oath. Archbishop Justin Welby said the Bible, hand-bound in leather and decorated in gold leaf, will be the first and most important gift offered to the King, showing that scripture is at the heart of the responsibilities he undertakes at the coronation, and at the heart of Christian life.
Rules for changing coronation oath wording
The coronation order of service is yet to be published but Oliver Dowden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, issued a written statement this week saying the King will take the oath prescribed by the Coronation Oath Act 1688. “The precise form of words has been varied over successive coronations to reflect changes to the constitutional position”. For Queen Elizabeth II, changes reflecting realms and territories were made without express legislative authority. He proposed to follow the same approach. The 1953 coronation oath is here
The RMC is holding a briefing unpacking the coronation ceremony, on Monday 24 April at 1200 with Catherine Pepinster, Prof Ian Bradley and Rev Prof Alison Milbank. Details: [email protected]
Key Church of England leaders address Gafcon conference
It’s been revealed that key leaders in the Church of England are addressing the Gafcon conference in Rwanda. Gafcon split away from the Anglican communion in 2008 in opposition to same sex relationships and liberal interpretations of the Bible. The Rev Richard Moy tweeted that Busola Sodeinde who is a church commissioner, “gave an epic plug for Holy Trinity Brompton”, a large wealthy evangelical charismatic church which started the Alpha course and funds church plants. He went on to reveal that Canon John McGinley, Executive Director of Myriad, a church planting project based within the Gregory Centre for Church Multiplication, similarly plugged his project by video. The revelation provoked criticism from the Rev Dr Charlie Bell who said it was highly questionable that a church commissioner should be encouraging schism. In reply Sodeinde said she was not ready to let go of the Anglican communion and would fight to maintain unity. The Rev Lorenzo Fernandez- Smal asked what Canon McGinley was doing there as he received millions of pounds from the CofE for Myriad and had assured people that his work was not undermining the parish ministry of the Church of England. In reply, John McGinley said no money comes from the CofE for Myriad and the vast majority of work in the Gregory Centre is privately funded, adding that Myriad supports clergy and churches setting up new church plants.
“We need more divinity, not more maths” in schools
The Rev George Pitcher, journalist, author and parish priest, makes a plea for Rishi Sunak to make RE compulsory alongside maths. In an opinion piece on Substack, he says religion is “every bit as vital for understanding contemporary reality as is particle physics. Perhaps more so”. He says that maths and science ask the question how, but RE asks the question why? He wants children to address issues such as: Why is there something rather than nothing? Why do people live self-sacrificial lives? Why do humans have consciousness and why are love and hope so vital to their existence? Maths explains the universe in material terms, he says, but it is insufficient to understand the place of humans within it.
Tackle maternity inequalities by more emphasis on faith
Faith Action, which co-ordinates faith-based and community organisations offering front line social support, has welcomed a government report calling for faster progress on tackling inequalities for black and minority ethnic women in the area of pregnancy and maternity. It points to its work involving faith leaders, highlighting the issues which have been known about for 20 years, and together coming up with solutions. Their workshops have concluded that questions about faith preferences should become a standard part of holistic assessments in perinatal care; NHS Trusts should consider co-locating antenatal classes in community settings, including churches and mosques; and local public health should fund faith-based “maternity champions” pilots, in partnership with faith communities. Generally, they say there is a need for greater faith literacy in clinical settings.
Memorial service to mistreated LGBT+ people in church
A memorial service for members of the LGBT+ community who have lost their lives to suicide and experienced harm, following exclusion from Christian communities, will be held at Hinde Street Methodist Church, London, on Sunday. It is organised by OneBodyOneFaith, formerly the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, to raise awareness of the effect of exclusion and mistreatment within churches.
