Ludlow Town Council axes prayers from agendas at meetings

Prayers will no longer be held as part of Ludlow Town Council meetings – ending a practice dating back decades. Councillors voted to axe prayers from official agendas last night.

The decision was made after Councillor Susan McCormack claimed councillors were effectively being summoned to pray, regardless of their religious and spiritual beliefs.

But prayers will continue to be held before meetings under the new arrangements.

The decision was made in the wake of a High Court ruling last month effectively banning prayers as part of council meetings.

The National Secular Society won a test case against Bideford Town Council in Devon, which had previously included prayers on its agendas.

Councillor McCormack said she had no objections to prayers being held by councillors but insisted they should be held before meetings rather than as part of the formal agenda. A motion she tabled was accepted by six votes to three.

It came despite town clerk Veronica Calderbank advising councillors to maintain prayers as part of meetings. Ms Calderbank said there had been no complaints from anyone in Ludlow about the council holding prayers as part of meetings.

Councillor McCormack said: "I have no objection to prayers being held but I would suggest they should not be on the agenda but held before meetings start."