Telford vicar sparks fury over refusal to wear poppy

The Reverend Patricia Jackson, from Hadley Methodist Church in Telford, announced at a meeting of the clergy to organise this year's service that she would not be wearing the traditional symbol.

She has refused to comment, but the announcement has upset some churchgoers.

Hadley Parish Councillor Pat Smart was at the informal meeting last week where the announcement was made. She said the Rev Jackson told members of the clergy and local councillors if someone did not want to wear a poppy it was their democratic right.

She said: "The Methodist Church and all the people associated with it passionately support the Royal British Legion.

"The minister doesn't seem to realise how important it is to us to wear the poppy.

"This is all political and I can't respect that in these circumstances."

Fellow councillor Ron Plenderleith, who served in the Armed Forces for 38 years, said: "I just think it is unbelievable.

"If someone says they don't want to wear a poppy because of their right to democracy I would say that is absolutely correct, but if they don't want to, don't get involved in the remembrance service.

"The Hadley Methodist Church are absolutely brilliant in the way they organise the remembrance parade."

He said he did not believe the reverend's views reflected those of church members.

"I find the whole thing very sad," Councillor Plenderleith added.

David Moore, president of the Hadley and Leegomery Royal British Legion, said: "From the military members who attend the service, and there are a lot, we were very shocked.

"If someone decides they don't want to wear a poppy, that is down to the individual, but if they are officiating a remembrance service, just for an hour, an hour and a half, it's not going to cut anyone's throat to wear one."

Despite the decision, Mr Moore says the service will still go ahead at the church as planned.