A religious row is raging after a borough council committee agreed to music and dancing at two Chelmsford night spots on Good Friday.

Church leader the Rev Dr Paul Beasley Murray objected at last week's licensing committee meeting on behalf of the town's estimated 15,000 strong Christian community.

Dr Beasley Murray, chairman of Churches Together in Chelmsford, said later: "I was accused of being emotional but, for committed Christians, it is an emotional issue to have their views ridden roughshod over.

"I believe this is a bad decision and an affront to Christian conscience."

The four licensing councillors took the unusual step of issuing a statement after the decision to allow an extended licence to Dukes and Chicago Rock.

"We would like to demonstrate for those who were not present just how conscientiously we take our duties," they said.

"Whatever councillors' private views, we believe we have a collective responsibility to residents whatever their culture or religious belief.

"We live in a diverse society where the majority of people are not practising Christians. We all believe we made an objective and sensitive decision."

Dr Beasley Murray, senior minister at Victoria Road Baptist Church, gave the committee a graphic description of the Crucifixion and said that Good Friday was the holiest of holy Christian days.

"I don't object to shops opening on Good Friday, but I do to the fantasy worlds created on these occasions at Dukes and the Chicago Rock Caf," he said.

Chelmsford Roman Catholic leader Father Brian O'Higgins said that he had written an objection. "The committee took a democratic decision. I am not happy, but that's life," he said.

Fr Philip Banks, for Chelmsford Anglican bishop the Rt Rev John Perry, said that he had no prior knowledge of the meeting or Dr Beasley Murray's objection. "I doubt Bishop John would have any observation to make," he said.

Dr Beasley Murray

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.