Rector attacks mosque call to prayer

The rector of one of Oxford's largest Anglican churches last night called plans to broadcast the Muslim call to prayer from the city's main mosque "un-English". Charlie Cleverly, of St Aldate's Church, in a seven-point statement to his congregation, called on the Central Mosque, in Manzil Way, to drop its plans to broadcast the messages.

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....  Bells are just a signal and have been around for 1,500 years. They are a terribly English part of our culture. I do not believe in the imposition of another culture on our country."

Oxford Mail, 30 January 2008