Macclesfield

The faithful who gather at St Peter’s Church in Macclesfield are accustomed to praying for the hungry, the hurt and the lonely — but less often for their own Church leader.

The Rev Graham Turner, the team rector, believed that the beleaguered Archbishop of Canterbury was in need of spiritual comfort yesterday and included him in morning prayers.

“When something is said or reported, may we listen before judging and consider before making our response,” he urged.

Multimedia

• Video Q&A with Archbishop of Canterbury about Sharia

• Churchgoers react to Archbishop's comments

• Listen to the Archbishop's speech on Islam

Intellectual arrogance pervades heart of wisdom

Dr Williams was advised before his speech that the content could prove controversial. He should have listened to that advice

Background

• St Rowan seeks forgiveness for the sin of ‘unclarity’

• Prime Minister gives his backing to Archbishop

• Archbishop faces critics on day of judgment

• Sympathy and anger as faithful judge leader

• Row over gay clergy threatens to divide Church

Background

• John Donne's pulpit

• The Archbishop of Canterbury and Sharia

• My brush with Sharia was swift and fair

• Surprise at sheer fury of attacks on Williams

I've read it so you don't have to

The Archbishop of Canterbury meant well and was quite aware of some of the objections

Background

• Adopt Sharia in UK for Muslims, says Archbishop

• Archbishop urged to resign over Sharia row

• Full text of Archbishop's lecture

• From Leyton to Dewsbury, Sharia courts are already settling disputes

“We pray for Archbishop Rowan that he may be wise in how he responds to the present crisis and that his much needed voice may not be silenced. May we be led towards a more generous society that welcomes the contribution of others.”

The word Sharia did not pass Mr Turner’s lips. It did not have to; everybody knew what he was talking about. It was the main topic of discussion beside the kitchenette hatch where parishioners gathered for coffee after the service. Most spoke of their confidence in the wisdom of the Archbishop, but a few raised concerns about the handling of such a contentious issue by Lambeth Palace and one called for Dr Williams to be sacked.

St Peter’s Church could not be branded liberal or evangelical, one parishioner said. It could stand as a microcosm for the Church of England in the shires. Peter Jones, 57, a retired civil servant, said: “A lot of people are jumping on the bandwagon for political and religious reasons. He did not mean \ to be taken to extremes. He does not want this country to become an outpost of al-Qaeda.”

A significant number expressed concern that the debate had been handled poorly, not least by the Archbishop’s staff. Colin Jones, 64, was alone among the congregation in his conviction that Dr Williams had overstepped the mark and must go. “I question sometimes even whether he is a Christian. He is trying to love everybody and trying to do the right thing but he does not understand what he is talking about,” he said.

Bath

There was confusion and disappointment at Bath Abbey. But none of the worshippers at morning Communion felt that Dr Williams should step down. One half of the congregation believed that the primate had been grievously misrepresented. The other would have liked to roast him.

The Rector, the Rev Edward Mason, said that the Archbishop’s speech was “unfortunately opaque” but suggested that it was because he was addressing an audience of 1,000 lawyers. He said: “I am very sorry that someone who raises serious questions about the role of religious belief in modern society is ridiculed and disparaged. We want to sum up what this man is saying in six words and, if we can’t, we do it anyway. It would be a tragedy not just for the Church, but for the country, if he were forced to resign because of this.”

The view from the pews was less sympathetic. Sylvia Evans said: “I think what he said was wrong.” Margaret Dewey, who has worshipped at the abbey since 1951, said: “I was shocked by what he said. I have a friend from Qatar. He would not dream of suggesting anything like that. If you go to live in another country, you live by its rules — you don’t try to impose your own.”

Dr Williams’s failure to anticipate the reaction caused as much surprise as what he said, which many in the congregation admitted they were still unclear about.

Southwark

Worshippers at Southwark Cathedral were told that Dr Williams did not want Islamic law to apply to them.

In a letter handed to every member of the congregation at the Sunday service Dr Tom Butler, the Bishop of Southwark, wrote: “The Archbishop made it clear that he was not calling for Sharia to be applicable to non-

Muslims, nor was he advocating the introduction of its punitive sanctions.”

Dr Butler said: “I remain to be convinced of the incorporation of Sharia or any other non-Christian religious law into the English legal system as it would raise many serious practical difficulties.”

Although support for Dr Williams may have been strong within the cathedral, the mood beyond its walls was markedly different.