Former Queen’s Chaplain Gavin Ashenden quits ‘liberal’ Church of England
by Harry Farley, Christian Today:
A former Queen’s chaplain has quit as a Church of England priest after a long-running objection to what he saw as the liberalising trend of the CofE.
Canon Gavin Ashenden made the unusual move of resigning his orders on Friday, Christian Today can reveal, leaving more than 35 years of ordained ministry.
An ardent conservative on both sexuality and women priests, Rev Ashenden confirmed to Christian Today he had signed the ‘deed of relinquishment’ under the Clerical Disabilities Act 1870. This starts a six-month interim period before he officially leaves the Church.
He declined to comment on the move until his six-month waiting time is up.
It comes after the long-standing critic of the Church left his post as Queen’s chaplain in January following a row over a Quran reading in Glasgow Cathedral. The Shropshire-based priest criticised the decision by Rev Kelvin Holdsworth, Provost of St Mary’s Cathedral, for inviting a reading from the Islamic holy book at the Epiphany service on January 6.
Former Queen’s chaplain quits Church of England, BBC News
Gavin Ashenden: ‘The Church of England is a coach driving over a cliff’ by Aaron James, Premier (interview at the bottom of the article)