Oswestry mayor horrified as councils face prayers ban

Formal prayers could be banned before local council meetings across the country after a top judge today ruled that the practice was illegal.

The prospect was greeted with horror by Oswestry's mayor, who said she was 'gobsmacked' at the verdict. The National Secular Society won a test case at the High Court against Bideford town council in Devon, which had religious prayers on agendas.

Today Mr Justice Ouseley ruled it was illegal to have prayers as a formal part of any council meeting.

The NSS brought the action in July 2010 after being contacted by atheist Clive Bone, who was then a Bideford councillor and objected to the prayers.

In his ruling, Mr Justice Ouseley said: "The saying of prayers as part of the formal meeting of a council is not lawful under section 111 of the Local Government Act 1972, and there is no statutory power permitting the practice to continue."

Society lawyers argued council members who were not religious were being 'indirectly discriminated against', in breach of human rights laws. But the case was not won on those grounds, but on a point of statutory construction of local government legislation.

Oswestry's town mayor, Councillor Cynthia Hawksley, said she was 'horrified' at the decision.

The town council holds prayers before full council meetings and the annual mayor-making ceremony.

Councillor Hawksley said: "We have never had any complaints about having prayers and I am gobsmacked this has happened.

"We are living in a Christian country after all and I am horrified this decision has been made. I have been following this debate with some interest and am amazed that councils and councillors were not asked for their opinion."

Simon Calvert, of the Christian Institute, said: "We are pleased that the court has said the saying of prayers at meetings does not breach human rights laws – but it is bizarre that they should be declared unlawful because of the 1972 Local Government Act."