Kent County Council reintroduces the Lord’s Prayer at meetings

Councillors in Kent have voted to start each meeting with the Lord’s Prayer, despite opposition from secularists.

The motion was passed by 46 votes to 15, with six abstentions. While the National Secular Society (NSS) branded the move “regressive and divisive”, several councillors expressed their belief that Christianity is part of the UK’s national identity.

Kent County Council will introduce saying the Lord’s Prayer from its next meeting in July. Formal prayers have not been said in the council’s meetings since 1987.

Christian country

The leader of the Council, Linden Kemkaran, said that the Lord’s Prayer “unites us in this country in a common identity, which is very important”.

She added: “I see it as a pause to remember that we are all accountable for our words and deeds.”

Councillor Garry Sturley, who voted in favour of reintroducing the prayer, stated: “We are a Christian country and our laws are based on Christian values.”

‘Right to hold prayers’

In 2012, The Christian Institute defended Bideford Town Council, which was sued by the NSS for holding prayers in the formal part of its meetings.

In the resulting court case, the High Court ruled that local councils have no lawful power to hold prayers during official business.

But within days of the court’s decision, the Government fast-tracked the commencement of new laws that restored councils’ right to hold prayers in England.

At the time, The Christian Institute’s Solicitor Advocate said the High Court had “ruled against the National Secular Society in relation to their central argument that council prayers discriminated against atheists and breached their human rights”.