Anger over feminist service

THE diocese of Manchester was yesterday embroiled in a row over a feminist service in the Cathedral in which a picture of a Bosnian woman was used as an icon of Christ, writes Andrew Brown.

The liturgy, produced by a group known as 'The Manchester Planning Group of the World Council of Churches Decade of Churches in Solidarity with Women', has offended conservatives of every denomination.

Philip Gore, a member of the Church of England's General Synod, has protested to the Cathedral over the service last month, attended by the Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Rev Christopher Mayfield. But a statement issued by the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral says: 'The form of worship was not seen by the Cathedral until printed copies arrived on the day of the service . . . the display material (the figure of a Bosnian woman as Christ) was not seen in advance.'

Perhaps the last word should be left to the liturgy. All present were expected to sing: 'God who is everywhere present on earth/ No one can picture completely/ Yet to the eyes of the faithful she comes/ And shows herself always uniquely.'