The Archbishop of Canterbury has expressed his unwillingness to conduct a thanksgiving service for the end of the war in Iraq, fearing that it could appear triumphalist.
Dr Rowan Williams has told No 10, which is drawing up plans to honour the Armed Forces, that he would be happy to lead or preach at a memorial service, which would have a sombre tone.
But in a break with tradition which will disappoint many in the forces, he has indicated to friends that he is reluctant to take part in a national religious event which might seem to bless conflict.
Major wars in the past century have been marked by thanksgiving services, which express the nation's thanks for the forces as well as remembering the dead. There have also been victory parades through the streets of London.
The Second World War was followed by such an event at St Paul's Cathedral, attended by King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and senior political and military figures.
After the 1982 Falklands conflict, Margaret Thatcher was said to have been angry when the late Lord Runcie, then Archbishop of Canterbury, preached a sermon at the thanksgiving service in St Paul's calling for Christian reconciliation. He said that the Argentine dead should be remembered as well as the British. A remembrance and thanksgiving service for those who served in the 1991 Gulf war was held in Glasgow Cathedral, despite warnings by the Rt Rev David Jenkins, then Bishop of Durham, that any triumphalism would be "obscene".
Insiders said that Dr Williams, whose anti-war rhetoric in the approach to the war against Iraq irritated Downing Street, would feel awkward about taking part in a service which might appear to be at odds with his beliefs.
Calls for such an event are expected to grow over the coming months. But Dr Williams's reservations echo those of other senior figures, who feel that a thanksgiving service would send the wrong message to the Iraqi people.
Tony Blair said last month that the Government would "acknowledge the huge contribution of the troops, their sacrifice and the pride the country feels in them".
He said: "It would be extraordinary if we did not denote by a major event what has happened. There will be a major celebration."
John Reid, the Leader of the House, said the event "could take one of various forms of memorial service or some form of homecoming parade".
But Adml Sir Michael Boyce, the Chief of the Defence Staff, said last month that a victory parade might appear "arrogant or patronising about the Iraqi people".
A national event is not likely to be staged for months because troops are expected to remain in Iraq for some time. America also plans to mark the end of the war.
Church liturgists said that, although the contents of memorial and thanksgiving services were virtually interchangeable, the nomenclature indicated the overall tone.
"The Archbishop may want the service to focus on a remembrance of those who died rather than on any sense of a righteous victory," one said.
The Dean of St Paul's, the Very Rev John Moses, said: "We must remember with thanksgiving the dead of our Armed Forces, but we must also be alert to the sensitivities of the Arab world and those in our own country who were opposed to military action."
"by Jonathan Petre ("The Telegraph," May 8, 2003)
The Archbishop of Canterbury has expressed his unwillingness to conduct a thanksgiving service for the end of the war in Iraq, fearing that it could appear triumphalist.
Dr Rowan Williams has told No 10, which is drawing up plans to honour the Armed Forces, that he would be happy to lead or preach at a memorial service, which would have a sombre tone.
But in a break with tradition which will disappoint many in the forces, he has indicated to friends that he is reluctant to take part in a national religious event which might seem to bless conflict.
Major wars in the past century have been marked by thanksgiving services, which express the nation's thanks for the forces as well as remembering the dead. There have also been victory parades through the streets of London.
The Second World War was followed by such an event at St Paul's Cathedral, attended by King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and senior political and military figures.
After the 1982 Falklands conflict, Margaret Thatcher was said to have been angry when the late Lord Runcie, then Archbishop of Canterbury, preached a sermon at the thanksgiving service in St Paul's calling for Christian reconciliation. He said that the Argentine dead should be remembered as well as the British. A remembrance and thanksgiving service for those who served in the 1991 Gulf war was held in Glasgow Cathedral, despite warnings by the Rt Rev David Jenkins, then Bishop of Durham, that any triumphalism would be "obscene".
Insiders said that Dr Williams, whose anti-war rhetoric in the approach to the war against Iraq irritated Downing Street, would feel awkward about taking part in a service which might appear to be at odds with his beliefs.
Calls for such an event are expected to grow over the coming months. But Dr Williams's reservations echo those of other senior figures, who feel that a thanksgiving service would send the wrong message to the Iraqi people.
Tony Blair said last month that the Government would "acknowledge the huge contribution of the troops, their sacrifice and the pride the country feels in them".
He said: "It would be extraordinary if we did not denote by a major event what has happened. There will be a major celebration."
John Reid, the Leader of the House, said the event "could take one of various forms of memorial service or some form of homecoming parade".
But Adml Sir Michael Boyce, the Chief of the Defence Staff, said last month that a victory parade might appear "arrogant or patronising about the Iraqi people".
A national event is not likely to be staged for months because troops are expected to remain in Iraq for some time. America also plans to mark the end of the war.
Church liturgists said that, although the contents of memorial and thanksgiving services were virtually interchangeable, the nomenclature indicated the overall tone.
"The Archbishop may want the service to focus on a remembrance of those who died rather than on any sense of a righteous victory," one said.
The Dean of St Paul's, the Very Rev John Moses, said: "We must remember with thanksgiving the dead of our Armed Forces, but we must also be alert to the sensitivities of the Arab world and those in our own country who were opposed to military action."