Church anger at 'No Smoking' rule

20 May 2007 12:25

Rules forcing churches in East Anglia to put up no smoking signs have been branded “absolutely absurd” by diocese officials who pointed out a ban has existed without them for centuries.

Churches and cathedrals are being made to display the signs or face forking out a £200 fine when the ban on smoking in public places comes in force on July 1.

Officials in dioceses across the country have received formal letters instructing them that a sign outside every public entrance will be mandatory, even on Grade I listed heritage buildings.

The signs will have to include the European no smoking red circle with a line crossed though it and the words: “It is against the law to smoke in these premises/this church.” But they won't have to be permanently fixed to the wall or door and can go on a stand instead.

Fr James Walsh Dean of the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St John the Baptist in Norwich, said: “It is absolutely absurd, No-one has ever to my knowledge smoked in St John's Cathedral. Why put a notice up telling people not to so something that they are not doing.”

He added that as the sign will have to go in the porch it was the first time the government had a say in what went into the cathedral and he feared it would become the thin end of the wedge.

Jan McFarlane, Norwich Diocese communications officer, said churches had effectively always enforced a smoking ban without the need for signs.

“It is completely unnecessary. There is still a residual understanding that you don't smoke in churches. Even when you have weddings or baptisms people you often see a group of people outside nervously having a cigarette.

“All the people I have spoken to with regards to this say they have never had to tell someone off for smoking in the church.

“I think there is a feeling that this is yet another piece of unnecessary health and safety legislation that we are having to deal with.”

She added that the signs could imply that smoking might once have been allowed and therefore weaken the centuries old assumption that it is unacceptable.

The Department of Health has previously said providing an exemption for churches “would have created a dangerous precedent.”

Church officials have been reassured by government minsters that fines for flouting the law will not be enforced as heavily as for pubs and clubs and the two sides are continuing talks about future legislation.

The rules will be reviewed three years after the ban comes into force.

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