4 MARCH 2000, Page 31

From Mr John Jolliffe Sir: The excellent article by Peter

Hitchens on 'political correctness' mentions switching off microphones in mid-speech. The Church of England threatens this in Wells Cathedral, of all places. The organiser of a recent ser- vice there asked if the lessons could be read from the King James Bible. The answer was no. 'What would happen,' he asked, 'if I did read the King James version?' We would switch off the microphones.'

John Jolliffe

Shepton Mallet, Somerset