Telford Poppy refusenik Reverend has been suspended from her duties
A Methodist minister who sparked fury by refusing to wear a poppy to a Remembrance Day service has been suspended, parish councillors were told.
Reverend Patricia Jackson has been suspended from her duties at Hadley Methodist Church in Telford pending an investigation into matters not connected to the poppy row, members of Hadley and Leegomery Parish Council were told yesterday.
American-born Ms Jackson angered armed services veterans and parish councillors when she announced she would not wear a red poppy while officiating at this year's Remembrance Sunday service at the church because she believed it "glorified war".
She said she would wear a white poppy instead.
Parish council chairman Councillor John Smart: "I am told that she has been suspended from duty pending further investigations into an incident unrelated to the poppy, so that issue is now closed. It was not very pleasant for the people involved."
Councillor Pat Smart said the service would now go ahead as planned with lay preacher Terry Gilder taking Ms Jackson's place.
She said: "We have three clergymen leading the service – the vicar, the pastor from the Elim church and a local preacher from the Methodist church in the absence of the minister and we are looking forward to a dignified and well-supported service on this very, very solemn occasion."
Councillor Ron Plenderleith, an armed services veteran of 38 years, said: "I think the whole thing was extremely sad. I can't understand how a person from a foreign country can be parachuted in and then try to change the service or the way it is held. Who would glorify war?
"She was taking over the day, and it was being degraded. That's not what the day is about. It is about people showing their respect for those who gave their lives. It was so sad it's unbelievable and I really don't want anything to do with the woman ever again."
Hundreds of people are expected at the Remembrance Sunday parade and service in Hadley on Sunday. The parade will assemble at Castle Farm Community Centre on High Street between 10am and 10.15am before making its way to the war memorial.
After moving into the Methodist church for a traditional service, the parade will then follow a route around Hadley before being dismissed.
