I have not yet received a reply from Dr Howells on the question of whether the current exemption to the licensing requirement for music as part of a relgious service, is to be scrapped along with the 'two in a bar rule', but Mr Bridgett's comments from the DCMS, would appear to make it clear that churches and premises where this takes place will in future now have to come under the licensing regime.

It is not planned that the new system will give an exemption to any forms of entertainment. The proposal is that all activities to be held on a Premises Licence (including non-amplified music) would need to be revealed in the operating plan put for approval to the licensing authority. The authority could only impose conditions on the Premises Licence which protect public safety and prevent disorder, crime and public nuisance.

As music or dancing is the current definition of public entertainment, there is and needs to be currently a specific exemption for such music, under the Licensing Act 1964.

It looks as if all our old churches will now have to be inspected and come up to the high standards of safety required by pubs and other places where entertainment is held.