A library in Burgess Hill, United Kingdom, has banned a church-run playgroup for singing nursery rhymes that contained references to God.
Christian helpers from the Noah’s Ark group have been volunteering for eight years at the West Sussex Town library – where they would meet up once a month to sing songs based on Bible stories with children under the age of five.
The Noah’s Ark ‘rhyme time’ session, ran by The King’s Church Mid-Sussex, is the only local event of its kind which is open to whole community free of charge.
But now they have been asked to find another venue.
Library bosses decided to ban the playgroup after some parents complained that several songs mentioned ‘God’.
The group would sing songs like ‘Mr Noah Built An Ark’ in the tune of ‘Old MacDonald Had A Farm’, as well as the song ‘God Made A Rainbow’ in the tune of ‘I Can Sing A Rainbow’.
Many parents have labelled the library’s decision as ‘discrimination’ against Christian faith and were outraged at the decision, including Charlie Burrell, 33, and his partner Laura Kelly, 32. They have attended Noah’s Ark playgroup for the past four years.
“How can an organisation that brings people joy, especially to children, be discriminated against in this way?” Burrell told the Daily Mail. “I cannot imagine how anyone could find this offensive. All religions and beliefs are rightly celebrated in schools and even on TV channels… In fact isn’t that exactly what the library is for – education?”
Burrell added that the ban mainly affects the poorest families of the local community who will now have to start paying to join alternative playgroups.
Despite ending their partnership with The King’s Church, the library said they will continue to run weekly ‘rhyme time’ sessions at the library, which is now wholly led by staff rather than church volunteers.
In a statement to MailOnline, West Sussex County Council, who govern the library services and oversaw the banning of the group, said that families looking to access faith-based activities can continue to do so in “community venues”.
The King’s Church noted that they are sad that ‘Baby Rhyme Time’ has come to an end after eight-years. “It has been a well-loved, free group for people in the local area,” the church said, “However, we respect the decision of West Sussex Library services and we will continue to do all that we can to serve them and our local community.”
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