This interesting little snippet caused me to raise the eyebrow: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7857329/Row-over-historic-appointment-over-female-cleric-as-vicar-of-Westminster.html
On the face of it, it looks as if the Ole Boy Net of the C of E has again collided with the kultur gap with the modern world, misjudging badly how the great unchurched (those who ain't sure if God exists but assume that if he does, then he's C of E and it is advisable occasionally to pray to him) react to its established procedures. It looks to me as if there has been a difference of opinion over who is best suited to a particular job between 2 patrons, rather than a culture war over gender, race and all that jazz. Traditionally the parish of St Margaret's Westminster (a rather dull little tabernacle in the Abbey grounds) has been the Parish Church of the House of Commons and it's Rector ex-officio Speaker's Chaplain. It was combined with a Canonry of the Abbey and the Sub Deanery a while ago. I'm sure that my hero Hensley Henson (later Bishop of Durham) was Rector, Chaplain and Canon in Mr Asquith's day - Helena Bonham Carter's grandpa, dontcha know? Hence the patron's have split the post, the appointing his choice to St Margaret's and the Abbey, the Speaker his to the Chaplaincy - which seems rather adult and grown up really. A storm in a journalistic tea cup, written up by Barchester Towers fans!
On the face of it, it looks as if the Ole Boy Net of the C of E has again collided with the kultur gap with the modern world, misjudging badly how the great unchurched (those who ain't sure if God exists but assume that if he does, then he's C of E and it is advisable occasionally to pray to him) react to its established procedures. It looks to me as if there has been a difference of opinion over who is best suited to a particular job between 2 patrons, rather than a culture war over gender, race and all that jazz. Traditionally the parish of St Margaret's Westminster (a rather dull little tabernacle in the Abbey grounds) has been the Parish Church of the House of Commons and it's Rector ex-officio Speaker's Chaplain. It was combined with a Canonry of the Abbey and the Sub Deanery a while ago. I'm sure that my hero Hensley Henson (later Bishop of Durham) was Rector, Chaplain and Canon in Mr Asquith's day - Helena Bonham Carter's grandpa, dontcha know? Hence the patron's have split the post, the appointing his choice to St Margaret's and the Abbey, the Speaker his to the Chaplaincy - which seems rather adult and grown up really. A storm in a journalistic tea cup, written up by Barchester Towers fans!
