The clergyman who runs one of Oxford’s largest and most successful churches has attacked Muslim plans to begin calls to prayer from the city’s Central Mosque.
The Rev Charlie Cleverley, Rector of St Aldate’s, a thriving charismatic evangelical church in the heart of Oxford, claims non-Muslim residents will be driven away by the thrice-daily calls to prayer over the eastern part of the city.
In coming out against the proposals, Mr Cleverley, who previously worked at a church in a Muslim area of Paris, is going against the views of his own bishop.
The Bishop of Oxford, the Right Rev John Pritchard, has backed the plans, to be submitted to the city council by leaders of the mosque later this year.
Although already in use by up to 700 Muslims at a time, the mosque is still being built. Muslim leaders in Oxford want to use a loudspeaker to relay the call to prayer, or azan, so as many Muslims in Oxford can hear it as possible.
The Church of England’s only Asian bishop, the Bishop of Rochester, Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, has argued that permitting the prayer calls in Britain represents an attempt to “impose an Islamic character” on some areas.
St Aldate’s, parts of which date from the 12th century, is so successful it puts on two Sunday evening services to cope with demand. Hundreds of young Christians worship there, including students from the university and other higher education institutions in Oxford.
Mr Cleverley said the azan was “un-English” and called on senior Muslims to reconsider their planned application.
Addressing his congregation, he compared the call to prayer to the “English” sound of church bells.
“It’s to do with nuisance noise affecting the inhabitants that have to hear it,” he said. “I feel it is un-English and very different from a bell.
“When such an area is subject to such a call to prayer, it may force people to move out and encourage Muslim families to move in.
“You do risk a kind of ghettoisation of the city a few years down the line.
“I hope and pray the Imam will hear the strength of feeling gently and lovingly and change his mind.”
Representatives from the mosque have repeatedly stated their wish to be able to play the muezzin’s traditional message to the Muslim faithful from speakers on a minaret.
They have maintained that they do not wish to cause divisions and that the volume will not be intrusive to neighbours.
Mr Cleverly said: “I don’t think the people of Oxford want to hear a call to prayer to Allah in the same way people don’t want someone loud in their face asking them to buy coffee.
“Bells are just a signal and have been around for 1,500 years. They are a terribly English part of our culture. There is a world of difference.
“I do not believe in the imposition of another culture on our country.”
He said that in his previous church in Parish, Muslims went to prayers without being called by a muezzin. “There was not a hint or thought for a call to prayer and the Muslims lived and worshipped very happily,” he said. “I think the French have got it right.”
Munir Chisti, the Imam at the mosque, said: “Everyone is welcome to think what they want and we welcome anybody to have their say.
“This was a suggestion that has spread like fire and caused panic in the community. We do not want that to happen.”
He also invited anyone concerned about the proposed call - two minutes per week and not three time per day - to visit the mosque to experience for themselves what all the fuss is about.
“Hopefully, watching the call to prayer will take all the panic away from the public,” he said.
“This is once a week on a Friday afternoon. I do not think it is going to cause problems for anyone.”