Westminster Abbey hosted ‘A Service to Recognise Fifty Years of Continuous At Sea Deterrent’ on Friday for the Royal Navy.
In the ceremony, the Abbey’s Dean, the Very Rev. Dr. Jon Hall, thanked God for the peace and security the at sea deterrents have provided.
He said he prayed that they would never be used but that: “We give thanks for all the thousands of people who have designed, built, supported and crewed the submarines during these past fifty years.”
The celebration sparked particular controversy within the Church of England, with over 200 clerics condemning the service as inappropriate and at odds with Anglican teaching.
Christians from across the country gathered to protest outside the Abbey during Friday’s service, insisting it should not be held in a place of worship.
We’re discussing @wabbey service marking 50 years of the UK’s nuclear deterrent at sea on our News Hour programme. Here’s the message from protesters outside the abbey earlier. @ChristianCND @CNDuk pic.twitter.com/tjjGm6pCwr
— Premier Christian (@PremierRadio) May 3, 2019
The Christian Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) held a service of repentance outside, with believers from across the church sharing bible readings and prayers. This was followed by a ‘die-in’ demonstration to represent the millions who would be killed in the event of a nuclear war.
CND’s Development Manager Russell Whiting told Premier: “The service sends the message that we are almost proud of…
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