Minister won’t conduct “glorifying” World War One service

A LANARK clergyman has made it clear he WON’T conduct any service “glorifying” World War One in this centenary year of the conflict.
By Ron Harris
Published 5th Mar 2014, 11:30 BST
Stance taken...by Rev Bryan KerrStance taken...by Rev Bryan Kerr
Stance taken...by Rev Bryan Kerr

The Rev Bryan Kerr, of Greyfriars Church, made his feelings clear during a meeting discussing how Lanark will mark the sad anniversary of the beginning of a conflict in which 234 of its men were killed in action.

A suggestion that a special church service be held on or around the 100th anniversary of the declaration of war in August caused the minister to respond: “I want everyone to know right now that I would have a big, big problem with something commemorating the start of a war.

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“It might look like a celebration and the start of this war – or any war for that matter – is nothing whatsoever to celebrate.

“Perhaps if we were marking the end of that war, some tasteful event might be in order but, the start of a war? No.

“I would have a real dilemma with a service to mark the anniversary of the beginning of a war.”

For more on this story pick up a copy of this week’s Lanark Gazette, which is in the shops now.