Signs of “no smoking” in church is “tacky and unnecessary”

Published on Wed, 30 May 2007 3:05 pm

A leading churchman from Cumbria said that signs as “no smoking” can offend people and it is “tacky”.

For this state smoking ban came into force on July 1. It is required by law that every places where lightening up of a tobacco is prohibited must be placed an outdoor sign that will inform people about that. If locals wouldn’t have such sign, it would be appreciated as offence and was introduced a mandatory to pay a fine of £200.

Wedding cars and hearses will also have to display signs.

Diocesan communications officer Canon Richard Pratt, of St Cuthbert’s Church, Carlisle, said:”You can imagine churches are very unwilling to put signs up because it is just so tacky.“

Further go a more solid reason about church smoking: “What planet have you been living on if you think it’s okay to smoke in church anyway?”

The Rev Stephen Prior, the vicar of St Kentigern’s Church in Caldbeck, said: “Putting up signs seems a bit unnecessary.”

At Carlisle Cathedral things go more peaceful. Here are prepared to put up no smoking signs in time for the ban.

Dean of Carlisle Cathedral, the Very Reverend Mark Boyling, said: “It’s been made quite clear that all public buildings are included so no negotiation is possible. We are told it can be a fairly discreet sign. Our hope is that it won’t offend people by having the sign there.”

To all above affirmations, Carlisle City Council spokesman said: “Buildings such as churches are also required to be smoke free, and as such are required to prominently display appropriate signage, though there is a certain amount of latitude in the design of such materials, ensuring the signage is sensitive to the setting it is displayed in.’