Giant inflatable whale too ‘religious’ for London park

Plans to beach a giant inflatable whale beside the Thames in London for a re-enactment of the story of Jonah have been refused because it would be too “religious”.Organisers had hoped to place the 50ft sperm whale, which is owned by a circus troupe, in a park opposite Tower Bridge during the school summer holidays.The life-size creature, which children can explore inside, has been beached on the same spot in the past as part of a pirate-themed attraction for children.Actors were being lined up to play Jonah and other characters as part of an ambitious drive by the Bible Society to help reintroduce a new generation of children to once familiar stories.It follows research showing that children are increasingly unable to identify Bible stories such as Noah’s Ark or Moses which were once a basic childhood staple.The aim, the society insists, is not to promote any religious teaching but introduce children to some of the most dramatic stories previous generations would have known.But the plans were left disarray earlier this week when the chief executive of the Potters Fields Park Management Trust, which runs the site, turned down the request explaining: “I am afraid that under the terms of our lease we are not allowed to have any events of a religious nature.”James Catford, chief executive of the Bible Society, said: “We’re not here to tell children what to believe.“We simply want to give them a really fun experience they will always remember.“The research we recently commissioned as part of Bible Society’s ‘Pass It On’ campaign showed that 80 per cent of all parents think their children should have the opportunity to engage with Bible stories.“The challenge is knowing where to begin.“We thought that giving children the chance to sit in a large inflatable whale and have the story of Jonah read to them was a good place to start.”The society is looking for a new spot on which to beach the whale.(telegraph.co.uk)ANN.Az