School Worship Law Not Working

The law requiring Christian worship in public schools is not working and should be reviewed, the second-ranking leader of the Church of England said Thursday.

Public schools in England and Wales are required by law to provide daily collective worship, emphasizing Christianity but also taking account of other religions in the community.

“Poor school worship can actually have an anti-religious effect. It would probably be an advantage to have less worship, but of a better quality,” the Most Rev. John Habgood, the archbishop of York, said in an interview with education writers in York.

Compliance with the law is spotty, and there have been calls recently to relax or abolish the requirement.

The National Association of Head Teachers surveyed its members last year and found that two-thirds said they were unable to comply with the requirement for collective worship.