INCREASED attacks on the Church of England from several quarters was the main theme of a speech given to members of Bromsgrove’s ancient Court Leet by the Bishop of Worcester.

The Rt Rev John Inge was speaking at the court’s annual Bailiff’s Dinner held at Guesten Hall, Avoncroft Museum, last Friday attended by members, guests and representatives from neighbouring courts. It was hosted by Roy Thomason, OBE, from Fockbury, who is nearing the end of his year as bailiff.

The bishop claimed the court, which has been in existence since 1199, is a “useful anachronism”

a conclusion he had reached he said while contemplating if the modern church could be similarily described.

Highlighting recent well publicised attacks by sections of the media and judiciary he said; “We do come in for a bit of stick.”

He went on to say we should not be afraid to celebrate our national identity. “Tocelebrate Englishness means to celebrate our Christian heritage and not forget it. It is the role of the Church of England to encourage us to do that whatever judges or Sun columnists might say.

“A society which forgets its history is as sad as an individual with Alzheimer’s.”

Other speakers including leading city figure and government advisor Sir Howard Davies who is a long time friend of the bailiff’s, the town’s MP Sajid Javid, the district council’s civic head, Councillor Helen Jones, and the Rev Chris Wingfield, vicar of St John’s Church,whois also court chaplain.

The winner of a splendid roasted boar’s head, traditionally the first prize in a raffle, which raised a record £1,000 on the night for the bailiff’s charities, was Juryman Dr Bill Tucker, a consultant at the Alexandra Hospital.