Deep Distress.

The head of the Scottish Episcopal Church has said it is "deeply distressed at the widespread offence that has been caused" by a reading from the Quran at St Mary's Cathedral.

The Epiphany service at the Glasgow church included a contribution from Muslim law student Madinah Javed, who went beyond the reading included in the order of service to include extra verses explicitly denying Jesus was the son of God. It is not clear whether the dean, Kelvin Holdsworth authorised the extra verses or whether he was unaware Javed had recited the controversial passage.The incident has been widely condemned.

A passage from the Koran was read at an Epiphany service at St Mary's Cathedral, GlasgowFinlay McWalter/WikiBishop David Chillingworth said the SEC had a long commitment to interfaith work but that "This work, like all works of reconciliation, must be founded on truth. We approach others with open hearts but we stand in the truth of the gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

In an implicit criticism of Holdsworth and St Mary's, he continues: "Those who seek to work in the area of interfaith relationships must weigh carefully whether the choices which they make are appropriate or otherwise. In today's world, those judgements must give careful consideration to good relationships which have been carefully nurtured over many years in a local context. They must also weigh carefully the way in which national and international issues shape perceptions of what is appropriate or inappropriate."