Church trends
Sir: Richard West refers (14 April) to the new services and prayers at present being inflicted upon Anglican congregations. At a recent Deanery Synod meeting a complaint was made that school children no longer know the Lord's Prayer by heart. But what now is the Lord's Prayer? No clergyman can give a straight answer. If one complains about the Series .3 Communion Service, one is lucky to receive a patronising smile: more likely is one to be made to feel un-Christian for being uncooperative.
The emphasis on Parish Communion as opposed to Mattins surely discourages rather than otherwise an unconfirmed adult from attending church on a Sunday morning. What can one do? Complaints seem to fall on deaf ears.
I recently attended a Series 3 wedding service, and feel that there will soon be a new and trendy form on funeral service. One could perhaps add a codicil to one's will insisting on being buried according to the rites of the 1662 Prayer Book. But in thirty years' time would there be a clergyman who would comply?
A. H. Gaddum Lane Ends House, Sutton, Near Macclesfield
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