23rd January 2017
Gavin Ashenden was one of many who criticised the decision of St. Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow
to invite a Muslim to read from the Koran during an Epiphany service. Now,
having resigned as a chaplain to the Queen over the issue, Gavin explains why he
believes a three-cornered struggle for the public space is taking place between
Christianity, secularism and Islam.
Nine years ago I was appointed as a Chaplain to the Queen. Last
week I resigned.
I had expected to enjoy the honour of the office for another eight years
– until I was 70. I was sorry to give it up.
I resigned in order to be able to speak more freely about the struggle
that Christianity is facing in our culture.
I had no idea that there were plans afoot by a Scottish Cathedral to
"reach out to Muslims" by scrapping a Bible reading from their worship on the
Feast of the Epiphany (when Christ’s Lordship is celebrated as the Light of the
World) and replacing it with a part of the Koran that denied Jesus was the Son
of God.
But when it did happen, it represented such a serious
repudiation of allegiance to Christ and the Gospels, that it could not be left
unchallenged.
