Respect and tolerance needed in politics, says chaplain

Should councillors pray before the start of their meetings?

It's a question that has taken centre stage in politics after seven authorities run by Reform UK, including Essex County Council, decided to start every meeting of the full council with the Lord's Prayer.

Prayers used to be commonplace in every council chamber in the country. A few still ask a priest to open their proceedings.

One of them is Norfolk County Council, which for the last five years has had the Reverend Albert Cadmore, a retired priest from Great Yarmouth, as its chaplain.

Cadmore normally says just one prayer and at the last meeting he attended it was less than a minute long.

The prayer is this: "Almighty God we come to you today asking for your guidance and inspiration as we gather for this council meeting. Help us all to engage in meaningful discussion, guide us in the ways of truth, tolerance, wisdom and integrity and keep us ever mindful of the needs of the people and communities we seek to serve."

Some of the councillors murmur "amen" in response - others stay silent.

"What often features in my prayers is the need for respect and tolerance and I think we need both in very great measure and not just in politics," he says.

"I also often take into account an international or national situation, just to bring our thoughts to others."

He says he has been told that his words often have a positive impact on the meeting that follows.

Cadmore is 79 years old and has a long history of pastoral service to Norfolk communities.

He is heavily involved with the RNLI in Gorleston and has also been chaplain to numerous mayors of Great Yarmouth, as well as to Norwich City Football Club and Gorleston Football Club.

He was conferred the British Empire Medal for his service to the community in 2024.

"I am very conscious that not all councillors are practising Christians but I have been involved in lots of chaplaincy roles and for me chaplaincy is about being there first of all and being ready to support them," he says.

"The pastoral side of chaplaincy applies to people of all faiths and none and the spiritual side of it is less overt but is there.

Other authorities, including King's Lynn and West Norfolk and East Cambridgeshire district councils, always use a Christian minister.

Peterborough will often ask people from other religions to say the opening prayer.

Suffolk County Council asks a priest or religious leader for a "reflection" before its meeting begins - but not a prayer.

Maxine Webb, the leader of the Green Party group on Norfolk County Council, said: "I personally wait until the service is over before going into the chamber for a full council meeting because I think we should be inclusive.

"If we are going to have a service we should not just restrict it to a Christian service, but that is a personal view."

Kay Mason Billig, the former Conservative leader at Norfolk, says a prayer at the start of proceedings is important as it "teaches us to be more respectful".

"Albert [Cadmore] has been absolutely brilliant. He reminds us of our duties before we start, we have always had the service and long may it continue."

Reform is now running Norfolk County Council as a minority administration. There are no plans at the moment to introduce the Lord's Prayer but it has asked Cadmore to keep attending its meetings.

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