From the Revd Christopher Miles
Sir, - Regarding the lightning damage to St Andrew's,
Ramsbottom (
News, 26 July), the Team Rector says: "We are meeting for
prayer to ask: What is the Lord saying to us through
this? We have got to be as positive as possible."
I admire this approach. May I be so bold as to
suggest one of the things that he may wish to say to the Church is:
"My dearly beloved children, I forgive you for ignoring the
technology that has been around for more than 250 years and has
proved its value. Please, though, as a sign of your
repentance, now fit a good-quality lightning-protection system.
Don't believe the beguiling and disproven legend that lightning
never strikes the same place twice."
Perhaps the Lord is also saying to many other
churches: "Review your lightning protection."
CHRISTOPHER MILES
Lightning Protection Consultant for the dioceses of Rochester and
Canterbury
2 Spa Close, Hadlow
Tonbridge, Kent TN11 0JX