C of E raises serious concerns about Christian Freemasons
Church of England warning that secret society may not be compatible with Christianity echoes concerns from 1987
The Church of England has reiterated “significant concerns” about Christians becoming Freemasons amid renewed controversy about the presence of the secretive organisation at the heart of the British establishment. Christopher Cocksworth, the bishop of Coventry, flagged up a 1987 report issued by the church that highlighted a “number of very fundamental reasons to question the compatibility of Freemasonry and Christianity”.
The bishop was responding to a question tabled at the church’s General Synod, meeting this week in London, which sought information on services celebrating last year’s 300th anniversary of the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) held in “a number” of Anglican cathedrals.
Cocksworth said such data was not collected or monitored centrally, but added that cathedral services were required under canon law not to contravene church doctrine.
Michael Baker, UGLE’s director of communications, also said the information was not “to hand”, but added: “Services held in various cathedrals were normal services according to the prayer book and did not deviate from normal Anglican practice.
“The Anglican synod has never come to a conclusion on the compatibility of Freemasonry and Christianity. The 1987 report raised what [it] termed ‘serious questions’ and the synod recommended that they be discussed throughout the church. As far as we are aware those discussions have never taken place.”
Canterbury was among the cathedrals that held tercentenary services for UGLE in 2017. According to West Kent Masons, the service on 18 February last year was prepared in conjunction with the Very Rev Dr Robert Willis, the dean of Canterbury Cathedral, who also delivered the sermon.
“We shall be joined by several of the High Rulers in the Craft and the Holy Royal Arch Chapter together with Brethren from the Provinces of East Kent, West Kent, Surrey and Sussex,” said a notice on West Kent Masons website.
The service came after Freemasons in Kent, Sussex and Surrey raised £300,000 for the restoration of Canterbury Cathedral’s north-west transept.
Lambeth Palace confirmed that Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury and head of the church, was not, nor had ever been, a Freemason. His predecessor, Rowan Williams, was an opponent of Freemasonry. Soon after his appointment, he said Christianity and Freemasonry were “incompatible” and he refused to appoint clergymen to senior posts if they were known to be members of the brotherhood. However, in 2011 he became embroiled in controversy after appointing a known senior mason as the bishop of Ebbsfleet.
Geoffrey Fisher, archbishop of Canterbury from 1945 to 1961, held the senior post of grand chaplain for UGLE.
The 1987 church report stated that it was “clear that some Christians have found the impact of Masonic rituals disturbing and a few perceive them as positively evil.” It said Christians had withdrawn from Masonic lodges “precisely because they perceive their membership of it as being in conflict with their Christian witness and belief”.
The Association of English Cathedrals said: “Cathedrals provide a place of worship and welcome. While the church has had an uneasy relationship with the Masonic movement, we do share a common humanity, and no one would doubt its commitment to charity and community.
“Some of our cathedrals have hosted special services organised by the Freemasons in the same way they would host services for a wide variety of different community groups and organisations in the spirit of openness and welcome.”
Since you’re here …
… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading the Guardian than ever but advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. And unlike many news organisations, we haven’t put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as open as we can. So you can see why we need to ask for your help. The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. But we do it because we believe our perspective matters – because it might well be your perspective, too.
I appreciate there not being a paywall: it is more democratic for the media to be available for all and not a commodity to be purchased by a few. I’m happy to make a contribution so others with less means still have access to information.Thomasine F-R.
If everyone who reads our reporting, who likes it, helps fund it, our future would be much more secure. For as little as $1, you can support the Guardian – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.
Posts
