Douglas Murray says that Ashenden deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. He certainly deserves accolades for his clear thinking in a time of immense confusion in Britain, when the representatives of a group that considers that it has a divine mission to conquer and subjugate another group are invited in by that group, asked to read aloud their repudiation of its beliefs, and hailed and celebrated for doing so. This is insanity, and Ashenden represents a lone voice of reason.
More on this story. “Allowing the Koran to be read in church is wrong. It’s why I’ve resigned as Chaplain to the Queen,” by Gavin Ashenden, Premier Christianity, January 23, 2017:
Gavin Ashenden was one of many who criticised the decision of St. Mary’s Cathedral, Glasgow to invite a Muslim to read from the Koran during an Epiphany service. Now, having resigned as a chaplain to the Queen over the issue, Gavin explains why he believes a three-cornered struggle for the public space is taking place between Christianity, secularism and Islam.
Nine years ago I was appointed as a Chaplain to the Queen. Last week I resigned.
I had expected to enjoy the honour of the office for another eight years – until I was 70. I was sorry to give it up.
I resigned in order to be able to speak more freely about the struggle that Christianity is facing in our culture.
I had no idea that there were plans afoot by a Scottish Cathedral to “reach out to Muslims” by scrapping a Bible reading from their worship on the Feast of the Epiphany (when Christ’s Lordship is celebrated as the Light of the World) and replacing it with a part of the Koran that denied Jesus was the Son of God.
But when it did happen, it represented such a serious repudiation of allegiance to Christ and the Gospels, that it could not be left unchallenged.
Leaving aside what kind of Christian would be happy to bring into the Ministry of the Word a passage from the Koran used to repudiate the claims of the Gospels, it represented one more step along a road, which if the Church continues to follow, will speed up the destruction of Christianity in our country.
Seduced by relativismWe live in a period of serious ignorance about faith and religion. For the last 40 years, teachers have been relentlessly teaching that everything is relative. It has been part of an assault on the Christian claims that there are moral absolutes.
Although it started with a Greek philosopher called Protagoras (490BC) who was rubbished by Plato, it resurfaced intellectually in the 19th Century under the influence of Anthropology (look at all these valid, varied ways of doing culture – there can’t be any one truth!) and Sigmund Freud (the whole religious thing is a product of the wish-fulfilling subconscious).
Tragically, some Christians have been seduced by this relativism. Either they’ve never read Plato’s refutation of Protagoras, (do – it will stand you in good stead!) or they haven’t understood the Scriptures. What relativism does is create a false comfort zone where you never have to make a serious or sacrificial choice. Whatever you fancy most at the time is ok.
Islam is completely intransigent about its claims yet it remains largely unchallenged by secular commentators. Christianity is intransigent about its claims too, however these claims are continually challenged, resisted or watered down. Yet nothing can obscure the fact that as between Islam and Christianity, we have to choose between the claims of Jesus and the claims of Mohammed whose life is predicated on refuting the claims of Jesus.
The end of a Christian presence in the UK?In the UK at present, there is a three-cornered struggle for the public space taking place. The protagonists are Christianity, secularism and Islam.
It seems to me that secularism continues to chip away at Christianity with its relativism and hedonism, but has discovered that Islam offers a useful leverage against the claims of Christians.
What I suspect will happen is that as Christianity retreats, compromised and confused – giving way to the relativism, Islam will turn on secularism, resist it and overwhelm it. If you haven’t read it, check out Michel Houellebecq’s brilliant recent novel Submission. In it, he charts how France falls to Islam in the next decade. Once you seen it, you’ve seen it.
We will be completely overcome as a Christian presence in our country and culture, if we allow the relativists to own the faith
We are at the early stages of this highly charged struggle. But we will be completely overcome as a Christian presence in our country and culture, if we allow the relativists to own the faith, and twist Christianity out of shape.
That was what was taking place in Glasgow cathedral under the guise of building bridges with the Islamic community. We should of course be doing exactly that – buildings bridges of trust, mutuality and understanding. But these bridges are unlikely to achieve very much in the face of Islam’s claims unless they result in Muslims being introduced to Jesus in such a way as to replace Mohammed in their affections.
The flaw in Glasgow was thinking that reading the Koran in the Eucharist was some kind of reciprocal gesture the Islamic community was signed up to. All we have to do is to ask how many mosques have read out the claims of Jesus during their Friday prayers? The answer is none. Not a single one.
This was not bridge building so much as capitulation – and capitulation in a holy place, at a holy time in a fashion that denigrated the risen Christ.
This was not bridge building so much as capitulation…

Marty says
It’s very refreshing to find a present day British Christian who
actually believes in the religion they profess.
The previous Archbishop of Canterbury (the hirsute one with his breakfast
in his beard), actually wanted sharia law incorporated into English Law.
Beyond parody.
The traitor to his religion & country naturally sits in the unelected House of Lords.
cs says
He seems to get it.
Rob Porter says
cs, It wasn’t just a case of him seeming to “get it”, it is an absolute delight to come across a man like this who acts upon his principles to forfeit position and get across a vitally important message and warning about the consequences of continuing down the path that Britain, Canada, Australia and other countries are taking.
I’m at loss to understand the stupidity and ignorance involved in these absurd outreaches when they are never reciprocated by Muslims who, in their sure knowledge now, know that from spineless contemporary Western individuals who claim to be Christian, there will not be any expectation, let alone demand, of reciprocity.
Itinerant says
Rowan Williams didn’t actually said that, although he might as well have- what he said was, the adoption of certain aspects of Sharia law in the UK “seems unavoidable”.
Dr Rowan Williams told Radio 4’s World at One that the UK has to “face up to the fact” that some of its citizens do not relate to the British legal system.
Dr Williams argues that adopting parts of Islamic Sharia law would help maintain social cohesion.
For example, Muslims could choose to have marital disputes or financial matters dealt with in a Sharia court.
He says Muslims should not have to choose between “the stark alternatives of cultural loyalty or state loyalty”………….He stresses that “nobody in their right mind would want to see in this country the kind of inhumanity that’s sometimes been associated with the practice of the law in some Islamic states; the extreme punishments, the attitudes to women as well”.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7232661.stm
But I would agree it is appeasement, merely seen as weakness and encourages more demands.
Sharia courts as arbitration for family matters in the UK, are not seen as compromise by many Muslims but platforms to advance more Sharia.
Simply put there should be no Sharia whatsoever in the West.
Progressives are normally so enamoured with all that comes out of the ECHR but studiously ignore it’s ruling that “sharia law is not compatible with the fundamental principles of democracy”.
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=WQ&reference=E-2012-001065&language=EN
Carolyne says
I believe that what Rowan Williams said was that :”Sharia Law is inevitable.” in England. In real life, if one can call this class system “Real. life,” he is Baron Oystermouth. No kidding.
I saw him once at Christmas service at Canterbury. He was a fool, preening that upturned beard and marching in and out of the Cathedral with a group who looked like one imagines the Chaucer Pilgrims would look. He was a peacock. He also was formally inducted into the Society of Druids.
Douglas Murray is a brave soul, but I fear he is tilting at windmills. It has already been decided by those who matter in England that they will become a Muslim country. Even Prince Charles, who has a lot to lose, admires Islam and wants to become “Defender of Faiths,’ not “The Faith,” as it has been since Henry VIII.
Bill says
Brexit is dead. Brexit was England’s best chance to save itself from Islam. It would have been the starting point of the anti-Islam revolution. A handful of elitists overruled the people. A larger handful of elitists in Parliament will make sure it never happens. I have a feeling that the next wave of immigration to the United States is going to be refugees from England fleeing the scimitar of Islam.
Gavin Ashenden may be one of the first to be forced to leave.
Dum Spiro says
But won’t Madonna speak at a rally then to ensure women’s rights?
— Spero
Elaine McMurren says
We would love to have more Brits in America. Come on over. I still think BREXIT will succeed, though. Best wishes. ⚜??
Dum Spiro says
Amen. Preach it, Gavin!
(In order that more may know the Truth…)
— Spero
Dum Spiro says
Here is some additional good perspective from Brian Lilly at The Rebel Media:
You may come to like the corroborative work of the fine people at http://www.therebel.media/ as much as I do…
— Spero
linnte says
Facebook denied my attempt to share this video.
james.mich says
Facebook didn’t like my calling Muzrats, Muzrats.
I don’t understand why the castrati who defended or allowed this infamy haven’t been punished, or even criticised, other than by this chap. Modern clergy are – with few exceptions – the most gutless pondscum on this planet.
Gwen says
And yet Facebook livestreams a gangrape by Muslim migrant men in Sweden for three hours without interference oe suspending anyone’s account.
Interesting definition of ‘hate’ you got there Facebook!
unoriginal username says
The Rebel is great; I have a subscription which I happily pay for. It’s a great counterbalance to the left wing drivel of the CBC, which Stephen Harper missed his chance to sell.
Don McKellar says
What a hero.
c matt says
Capitulation . . . to be followed by decapitation.
Dum Spiro says
I’ve heard of different ways for a country to get ahead in the world, but that is just ridiculous! 😉
— Spero
c matt says
I guess I don’t get why he felt obliged to resign. Why not stay at your post, and if they want to get rid of you, force them to do the dirty work themselves. That said, I don’t know the particulars of how things work for him, so maybe he had no other choice?
Kay says
If I understand correctly, he was told that to remain in his position, he would have to be silent on matters of Islam.
AvantiBev says
Bravo! Ascolta Papa Francesco??
Achmed says
Ain’t gonna get it out of the pope .. He’s a Roman Catholic … Therefore, he’s just a Roman Catholic bein’ a Roman Catholic. Nothin’ to see over there.
c matt says
He may be a Roman Catholic, but not a Roman Catholic just being a Roman Catholic. He is a Roman Catholic (by baptism and confirmation) being a modernist. After all, our fine host here Mr. Spencer is himself a Roman Catholic.
And yes, unfortunately, there seem to be far more of the Papa Francesco kind than the Robert Spencer kind, at least in positions of authority. But this too shall pass in God’s good time.
Carolyne says
Then why, “In God’s good time,” is your God allowing it since he just has to clean it up later? I wouldn’t wait, if I were you.
Angemon says
I’ll reiterate what I said before: kudos to this man for taking the hard road and giving up on personal comforts in order to stay true to his beliefs.
carol says
Per the video Reverend Ashendon “was pushed out of his job as Chaplain to the Queen… It was Bishops of the Anglican Church, who, after consulting with Buckingham Palace…decided it was too controversial.”
If Monarchy/the Palace is so apathetic and corrupt it wants to help give away England and it’s heritage and history then, like Pope Francis, it loses its credence. Islam is not a religion, it is a ludicrous cult promoted by stubborn, threatening, barbaric browbeating fanatics and it would be the height of folly for the remarkable Western world to want anything short of its prompt destruction.
Vyx says
One man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist.
One man’s bridge is another man’s capitulation.
All depends on what side you’re on.
Good for Ashenden. We could use him in the US.
c matt says
Kind of hard to build bridge when one side keeps blowing them up, if you get my meaning.
As W.C. Fields wisely said “If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again. And then give up, no sense in being a fool about it.”
Anne Smith says
Ashenden is more intelligent and probably better informed that most church leaders.
Rowan Williams is a disgrace. If he feels British citizens cannot live under our laws then he should be advising them to go and live in a Muslim country where Sharia is the law.
It is not yet the law here, but if no-one stands against it, then it will be.
Three cheers for Rev Ashenden.
marina says
There cannot be any bridge building between Islam and Christianity. Islam wants to dominate the world. What part of this sentence do people not understand?
ECAW says
How many of the other 33 Queen’s Chaplains will declare themselves one way or the other? Or the thousands of Christian ministers in Britain?
Some time ago, as an experiment, I emailed 20 CofE vicars and 20 Roman Catholic priests with a couple of pertinent links about Islam and an invitation to discuss. I received one reply, an invitation to chat about it over a cup of tea if I was in the neighbourhood. I explained that I wasn’t and never heard from him again. I found it disappointing, and surprising.
Kay says
Yeah, I know. In the summer, I spent countless hours emailing not only government officials, but also any feminist group I could identify online and churches. I got so few responses that later I started to wonder if Google had blocked my emails.
Babs says
It’s a great shame that other religious leaders in the UK, notably the Reform Synagogues Movement there, don’t follow this man’s sterling example. As it is the Reform Movement, the Quakers and others are so busy trying to understand these ingrates out of their tendency towards violence that they can’t see the wood for the trees.
Synecdoche says
I was a communicant member of the Church of England until the beauty and heritage of the Book of Common Prayer, Hymns Ancient and Modern and the King James Bible were discarded in favour of dumbed down, happy clappy banality. I looked briefly at Islam, inspired by a (Sufi) Muslim friend but could not believe the evil of the Qu’ran and their other so-called holy texts. Then came 9/11 and the only way I could go was atheism. I am becoming used to being called a bigot and a racist because of my now implacable opposition to Islam. When will those who profess Christianity or secularism wake up to the threat that Islam presents?
Kay says
Good question– what woke you up?
And as long as the press keeps on pretending that each assault isn’t about Islam or completely hiding the crimes at the same time they publicize hoaxes of hate crimes, then it takes more determination than many possess.
Carolyne says
It doesn’t matter that you are called a bigot and a racist. Wear those names proudly. They are an acknowledgement that you are aware of the evils of Islam.
balafama says
sometimes i wonder if there is something these priests and bishops that are out to destroy christianity know that we dont . is there something they have learnt about the christian faith that makes all of them so lukewarm in its defense and more than ready to capitulate to islam.
they had just better convert to islam so we know what we are up against . the funny thing with all this interfaith bs is that it’s mostly predicated on untruths and white washing islam ,what i find more astounding is that the muslims did not even demand to have their koran read in church ,no one forced the bishop to do so, i dont understand the overarching need to denigrate ur own faith .
Brodie says
Lukewarm is absolutely the right term. Jesus condemns the church of Laodecia in the book of Revelation for being just that – LUKEWARM. He would rather they be hot or cold, but being lukewarm he will spew them out of his mouth. Be lukewarm and be hated by God, definitely not a good place to be.
ECAW says
God hates? I had no idea. He sounds just like Allah.
Kay says
This is what else God says to the church at Laodecia:
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.
So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
Carolyne says
Brodie—I didn’t think that your God hated anyone. Isn’t He all compassionate and loving?
Anne Smith says
Part of this problem is the simple kindness and tolerance which is a charatteristic of the British indigenous population.
Most religious people, clercis and laity, have the simple belief that all religions basically worship the same things, God, and a kind and generous spirit towards others, and a desire to improve the world and life in general.
They really have no idea of the complex and vile nature of Islam, nor of its disgusting attitude towards women, equating the headscarf/burka/nijab, with the old costume of nuns, and revering the connection.
Salome says
Does anybody remember ‘the dictatorship of relativism’?
billybob says
Bravo!
Guest says
“Islam will turn on secularism, resist it and overwhelm it.” Yes (and I’m an atheist). It will do so by violence. It’s already having a good go at that in many parts of Europe. Atheists are used to sweet, kind christians at most trying to persuade us in a nice conversation. Now atheists will be open to islamic violence, while christians at least have a little protection under sharia.
I blame stupid atheists who can’t see the threat islam imposes and stupid christians who think that being a good christian means putting up with any c**p from another religion!
linnte says
This man’s face glows with the Love of Jesus. Contrary to Muslims who have no light in their countanence.
Carolyne says
Yes, linnte, looking at his face I feel I am looking at a happy man.
Baucent says
Send him a message of support on his blog site. Find it on google.
Pumbar says
From the article; “Gavin Ashenden was one of many who criticised the decision of St. Mary’s Cathedral”.
Mr Spencer; “Ashenden represents a lone voice of reason”.
Hmmm…
james.mich says
Brexit is very far from dead.
Carolyne says
I believe that the English Supreme Court has sent the question of Brexit to the House of Commons to decide upon. Apparently the people’s vote means nothing.
Eric Jones says
Gaven Asheden is very courageous. He has a knight courage. He also gave up a secure financial position. How many American preachers would do the same? Martin Luther said here I stand. There is strength in the Four Gospels. Peace and Blessings to Mr. Asheden.
Eric
Kay says
+1
Hari Singh says
There are stories from the Turkish Muslim conquerors putting Muslim prayers into the Byzantine Christian services until the Christian service ceases to exist.
The Queen as head of the Church of England should ask Muslims to reciprocate with Gospel readings in a mosque.
Neither the Gospel nor the Koran can be reconciled. The Gospel has Jesus predicting his torture,death and resurrection. The Koran denies Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead. Either Jesus’ prophecies are true or Muhammad’s are true. Both cannot be correct.
Since the Koran says that Christians and Jews had the Gospel “between their hands”meaning they had an authentic book which Muhammad told them to consult . This means the Torah and Gospel are true accounts and since the Koran contracts the Bible it is false.
El Cid 2 says
God bless you, Gavin Ashenden. I remain a Catholic (But a Christian first) – despite our deluded pope .Appeasement in this context is surrender. Christians worldwide should unite to resist Islam – an evil man-made politico religious sect (who, besides Mohammed, heard the arch angel in the cave?) – and the secularists should join us, as we promise not to behead them.
If Islam wins this battle it will not only be the end of Christianity but the end of Western Civilization itself.
Daniel Clee says
Can anyone please tell me exactly how Jesus is a prophet in Islam? I have asked Muslims, and after they immediately state they do not believe in the Trinity… that’s it. You then ask again and they are at a total loss. If Jesus declared himself the Son of Man, which, specifically he did in an indirect way, and attested to Peter’s claim that he was the Son of God, and further discussed aspects of the Trinity openly, then he is, by their rules, a double-blasphemer. Help?
Gwen says
David Wood has a short video on this topic, “What Islam really teaches about God and Jesus”:
https://youtu.be/O2tYAgboOrI
Wood is a Christian apologist who does a great job on YouTube and in live community debates exposing Islam as a fraud and bringing Muslims to Christ. Often the comments section of his more confronting videos will witness the conversion of people as well as outbursts of rage and threats of violence.
This is exactly what the Anglican Church should have been courageous enough to do.
Julia says
It has just come to my attention that our Liberal (very left wing) prime minister Justin Trudeau is about to pass a bill bringing Sharia Law into our lives. It is being done very quietly and secretly so that the general public (many who have no idea what Sharia Law is and the evil it contains) are not aware of this terrible decision. I pray that we can stop this law from being enacted brefore our great country is polluted with this horrible law.
African Man says
I am an Africa and we were colonized by Britain but This thing the British Church is doing is the height of SLAVERY and IDIOCY !! What a shame. Britain i am sorry to say, you are being conquered like Constantinople was. Soon you will have no freedom but it will be too late!
trish says
I am an Australian Christian brought up in the Church of England/ now Anglican faith. I was appalled by the reported sacrilege of faith in the Glasgow cathedral. so-called interfaith Eucharist service.
I emailed the responsible cleric, Kelvin Holdsworth, Provost, a fortnight ago. A perfectly polite query as to why this blasphemy was permitted or condoned: no reply. Not even a courteous ‘thank you for your communication, we’ll get back to you before the next ice age’.
Then I read the Queen’s chaplain, Rev Gavin Ashenden, had deplored this act of sacrilege and had been forced into resignation by the ecclesiastical powers that be.
I searched fruitlessly for an hour for an email address for the head of CE, the Archbishop of Canterbury, or any other senior church-holder. They are all on Twitter etc , but no email. finally found an email for Lambeth palace, but was told , in other words, replies could take a Millennium.
In the meantime, less than 24 hours later, I received a courteous and uplifting personal reply from Rev Ashenden, thanking me for my support.
May I encourage readers to similarly email the Rev Ashenden in support, and try to send the Archbishop of Canterbury a thumbs d
Genevieve says
There’s a new video on YT of the champion Rev. Gavin Ashenden discussing this very issue with Kevin Kallsen: https://youtu.be/0yQbD3iOLPQ
There’s no useful description or title aside from, “Anglican Unscripted 266”. The channel is called AnglicanTV Ministries.