Prominent bishops and church leaders have criticised a decision to allow Enoch Powell's body to lie in state in Westminster Abbey on the eve of his funeral. Powell died last week aged 85. For 10 years he was a warden of St Margaret's Church, Westminster, which is legally part of Westminster Abbey.
The bishops told the Sunday Times that the plan to honour Powell, who in 1968 made what became known as the "rivers of blood" speech against immigration, sent the wrong signals to Britain's black community.
The Bishop of Croydon, the Right Rev Wilfred Wood, said: "Enoch Powell gave a certificate of respectability to white racist views which otherwise decent people were ashamed to acknowledge."
He said the decision to allow Powell's body to lie in state would give him a standing which some would feel was undeserved. Referring to the former minister's 1968 speech, the bishop said it had caused "real fear among vulnerable people" and undermined attempts to create a multi-racial society.
His views were endorsed by the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Coggan, the Bishop of Leicester, the Right Rev Tom Butler, and Canon Ivor Smith-Cameron, a chaplain to Queen Elizabeth.
The Conservative MP for Staffordshire South, Sir Patrick Cormack, who will be delivering one of the addresses at the funeral, said: "These clergymen have shown a singular lack of Christian charity and a bigoted narrowness." It is sad, he said, that they should do this at "a time of sombre grief for Mr Powell's family".
Ms Ann Winterton, Conservative MP for Congleton, said: "Enoch Powell was a very distinguished parliamentarian and served his constituents well for over 38 years." She added: "I would have thought these people should have been praying for the repose of his soul rather than dragging up these issues."
Sir Teddy Taylor, Conservative MP for Rochford and Southend East, said: "Enoch Powell was a deeply religious man and concerned about the good of society. He was particularly concerned about the need to avoid racial conflict in this country." A Communion service will be held at Westminster Abbey on Wednesday morning. A service will take place later at St Margaret's, followed by a service and burial in Warwick.