The place of Christianity, and of the established church in particular, in the public life of the nation is being questioned on the grounds that we are becoming a secular society.
It seems to me a strange secularism where, every year, a large proportion of the population goes to considerable expense and trouble to celebrate the birthday of Christianity’s founder.
Perhaps the established church could take more of a lead; before any bishops’ seats in the Lords are removed from the Church of England it could offer to yield a few of its places to the likes of the Chief Rabbi, a senior imman, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, The Chairman of the Methodist Conference, the Chairman of the Free Church Alliance and leaders from Sikhism, Hindusim and Buddism.
Together they might help us to appreciate that much of what is appreciated about our culture has come from the concerns of religious people for their fellow citizens.