Council prayers
Case reference FOI2026/02186
Received 1 September 2026
Published 15 September 2026
Request
1. Between 26 May 2015 and 1 September 2026, have prayers ever been held at the start of meetings at the council?
If the answer is "No", please proceed to Question 5.
If the answer is "Yes", please answer the following in relation to the prayers:
2. If the practise of holding prayers began after 26 May 2015, please provide the start date.
3. If the practise of holding prayers ended between 26 May 2015 and 1 September 2026, please provide the date that they ceased. If prayers are still said at the council, please reply "still held" or words to that effect.
4. If prayers are still held at the council, please specify:
a) What religion (if applicable) are the prayers at present? (If they reflect multiple religions, please specify "multifaith")
b) Do the prayers reflect the council's chaplain, if applicable?
c) Are the prayers held as an official agenda item, or are they held before the meeting starts and not on the agenda?
5. If prayers are not held at the council currently, please specify whether any sort of moment's silence or nonreligious reflection takes place instead.
Response
1. Between 26 May 2015 and 1 September 2026, have prayers ever been held at the start of meetings at the council?
If the answer is "No", please proceed to Question 5.
If the answer is "Yes", please answer the following in relation to the prayers:
Answer: Yes, but not during the public part of the committee meetings.
2. If the practise of holding prayers began after 26 May 2015, please provide the start date.
Answer: They were in place before 26 May 2015.
3. If the practise of holding prayers ended between 26 May 2015 and 1 September 2026, please provide the date that they ceased. If prayers are still said at the council, please reply "still held" or words to that effect.
Answer: 19 May 2023.
4. If prayers are still held at the council, please specify:
a) What religion (if applicable) are the prayers at present? (If they reflect multiple religions, please specify "multifaith")
Answer: N/A
b) Do the prayers reflect the council's chaplain, if applicable?
Answer: N/A
c) Are the prayers held as an official agenda item, or are they held before the meeting starts and not on the agenda?
Answer: N/A
5. If prayers are not held at the council currently, please specify whether any sort of moment's silence or nonreligious reflection takes place instead.
Answer: At the chairman’s discretion, moments of silence are held, for example, where a serving or former councillor has passed away or an event of national significance has taken place.
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
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