Sir – The Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Rev John Pritchard, expressed his views on marriage in church to your paper (Report, March 15).
At the same time the MP for Witney was quoted as saying: “Society is stronger when we make vows to each other and support each other.” I agree and that is what we expect and hope for from our Members of Parliament.
But we do not expect politicians to think they can rewrite the Prayer Book for our churches — or, as Bishop Pritchard says: “There is a given about the definition of marriage” — in a church. As the marriage service says: “Marriage is a bond between a man and a woman and for the procreation of children.”
Thus if people want marriage in church they need to renegotiate the church service — an act which in our society can only be achieved by the church and its members — not by politicians.
Deborah Manley, Oxford
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