Just sent this brief letter to the editor of the Church of England Newspaper in the hope of stirring them up a bit.

Dear sir

I am writing in response to the Anglican Church's apparent attitude to the new licensing bill currently going through parliament.

If it remains unamended, the bill will by its existence outlaw almost all traditional entertainment in this country. Those affected will include, among many others, Morris Dancers, Folk Musicians, Carol Singers and even Church Bellringers.

When the powers that be in the Anglican church heard that it would also affect concerts held in churches they were, quite rightly, concerned and began lobbying to some considerable effect in the House of Commons. However, the extent of their requests (which, by the way, the government appears to have assented to) was that an exemption should be applied to concerts held in churches.

In the cause of natural justice, I am very surprised that more solidarity with other groups was not shown. Has the church given up on justice, or is it simply seeking special treatment for itself these days?

Yours sincerely
Ian Chandler

:-)