Letter: Language of liturgy

John Hind
Monday 08 November 1999 00:02 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Language of liturgy

Sir: Clare Garner is mistaken is asserting that hitherto worship in the Church of England has had to be in English ("Word of God need no longer be English", 3 November).

The theological requirement since the 16th century has been that it be "in a language understanded of the people", which is why one of the official languages of the Church of England has continued to be Latin, on the assumption that the scholars of Oxford and Cambridge were fluent in that language.

More seriously, since 1995, the Constitution of the Diocese in Europe has given me specific and canonical permission to authorise the use of local language liturgy in a number of European languages where pastoral need makes this necessary. This does not detract from the welcome to be extended to the news that minority UK languages might also be available in future.

+JOHN HIND

Bishop in Europe

Worth, West Sussex

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in