THE future of traditional prayers before full council meetings in Winchester is being questioned after a High Court decision.

Judges said Bideford Town Council was wrong to have prayers at the start of the meeting after an action brought by the National Secular Society.

The decision was welcomed by Winchester Liberal Democrat councillor Jim Maynard who says it is wrong that a local authority should also have prayers.

Cllr Maynard, who raised the issue last year, said: “The Bideford case was about prayers being on the formal agenda. They are not on the agenda at Winchester.

“It is something I would like to have a reasoned debate on, although not at the next council meeting on February 23 which is the budget meeting.

“I’m not attacking church or religion; it is the principle of them being separate from the council.”

Winchester and Chandler's Ford MP Steve Brine said: “I am a Christian and last time I checked this is still a Christian country. I was bemused and deeply saddened to hear this case was ever brought, let alone won.

“I think the vast majority of people locally will just wonder, and not for the first time, what this country is coming to. When did we as a people become so mean and so intolerant of each other?

“Each day the House of Commons starts with prayers and I personally choose to go in for that. For me, it's a good way to escape the motorway of modern life and take a moment to pause for thought. Many MPs, and many ministers, don't chose to do so and no-one objects for one moment. They simply wait outside for two minutes and then the session begins.”

A city council spokeswoman said it was not an issue at the council where prayers are said before the meeting starts by the mayor’s chaplain.

She said: “There are no implications (from the court case) as prayers are not part of the formal meeting.”