Tag: Britain

Mainstreaming British Paganism

On By Chas S. Clifton

Another “Pagans in our midst” article, this one from The Guardian, a generally left-of-center British newspaper.

Writer Cole Morton advances the “fastest-growing religion” meme, promoted also by the Pagan Federation:

The Pagan Federation, which aims to represent all “followers of a polytheistic or pantheistic nature-worshipping religion”, claims the number of adherents has trebled at least. That would mean there were 360,000 committed, practising pagans, putting them ahead of the Sikhs (329,000) and fourth behind Hindus (552,000), Muslims (1.5 million) and Christians (42 million, according to the census).

Hutton Named English Heritage Commissioner

On By Chas S. Clifton

Ronald Hutton, the history professor at Bristol University who is best known among Pagans for writing The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft and subsequent books on Druidism, has been named a commissioner of English Heritage.

From the news release:

English Heritage was established by the National Heritage Act 1983 as the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England. It is the Government’s statutory adviser on the historic environment. English Heritage (EH) receives around three quarters of its income from the Exchequer in the form of Grant in Aid (£129.4 million in 2007/2008). The remainder (£49.2 million) is self generated from commercial activities and fund raising. English Heritage’s role is to champion and care for the historic environment.

EH Commissioners receive an allowance which directly reflects the level of responsibilities undertaken, such as chairing an Advisory Committee and/or duties as a regional Commissioner. The remuneration range is currently £4,030 to £9,200 per annum.

Given all the controversies over ancient megalithic monuments in particular (although Hutton is equally an expert on the 17th century, the English Civil War, etc.), I am waiting to hear if he will be concerning himself primarily with the management of Avebury, Stonehenge, etc.

Britain’s Pagan Cops Request Religious Holidays

On By Chas S. Clifton

Pagan police officers in the UK are requesting–and sometimes getting–religious holidays that are “set in stone” (unintentional pun there, I think, on the reporter’s part, given the illustration). Here is a confusing/confused comment on an unofficial police web site. “Worship witchcraft”?