We received a petition asking:
“We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to allow The Spiritualists’ National Union to have a representative to take part in the Remembrance Day parade and place a wreath at the Cenotaph.”
Details of Petition:
“Over a number of years Spiritualists have unsuccessfully made representations to the government to be allowed to be represented among the religions which wish to pay respect to the fallen by laying a wreath at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday in Whitehall. Spiritualism serves the religious needs of the community in the same way as other established religious bodies and we ask that we be allowed to share in the same facilities and have accorded to us the same consideration and treatment as those of other, major religious denominations in relation to the annual national service of remembrance. The Spiritualists’ National Union accordingly respectfully requests the Government to allow a representative to take part in the Remembrance Day parade and place a wreath at the Cenotaph in commemoration of those who gave their lives for their country.”
· Read the petition
· Petitions homepage
Read the Government’s response
Thank you for your e-petition.
Currently, fourteen faith leaders are invited to attend the Remembrance Sunday Ceremony and proceed into Whitehall, where they stand in observance during the two minutes’ silence, the formal wreath-laying and the subsequent religious service. The current faith representation at the Remembrance Sunday Ceremony was agreed in 1999/2000, following consultation with the Chaplains-in-Chief to the three armed forces, who advised Government on the representation of faith communities in the armed forces. Officials continue to liaise with the Cohesions and Faiths Unit at the Department for Communities and Local Government who advise on faith representation more generally. There are no plans at present to change the faith representation at the Remembrance Sunday Ceremony, but the issue is kept under continuous review.
The Ceremony is organised in such a way as to represent the feelings of all those wishing to pay their respects and recognise those who fought and died for their country. The wreath laid by Her Majesty The Queen is laid on behalf of the nation, and is dedicated to all those who have suffered and died in war. Spiritualist ex-service personnel are free to apply to the Royal British Legion to participate in the veterans’ march past and represent members of their faith who served.
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