IN Plymouth there will be the January 20 meeting of Catholics, Anglican and Free Church personalities that in the past five years has become an annual event. This year, a panel of three will answer questions sent in by post from the public.
The meetings mark a softening of religious prejudice that has been dominant in this part of the country for generations.
Traditionally, the area was non-Conformist though after the Oxford Movement a wellorganised "high church" group developed against much "low church" opposition.
These antagonisms have dwindled in recent years, as priests and laymen of various faiths have made an effort to get to know each other.
A public meeting on the Wednesday of Christian Unity week at Glenorchy Congregational Church Rooms, Exmouth, will include the Rev. A. Lister-Hethrington, minister of the church, an Anglican clergyman, and a Marist Brother from St. Mary's School, Winslade, Clyst St. Mary.
The Rev. Francis McGuinness, parish priest of Budleigh Salterton, Devon, is hoping to gain permission to speak at a gathering at the town's Anglican church. The meeting will probably be transferred to a hall, if this permission is not given.
History is being made in the Anglican Cathedral at Exeter when, for the first time since the Reformation over 400 years ago a Catholic priest will be speaking. He is Dom. Jerome Gladman of Buckfast Abbey, who has been invited to address a united service on January 25 as a climax to a day of prayer.
. . • But Wales sleeps WEST Wales scores nil for unity projects this year. Fr. Laserian Geary, O.Carm., of Llandilo, says the time is not ripe there. "The people do not wish to have joint services between Catholics and Protestants. I do not think that the Protestant clergy want it either."
In Carmarthen the Protestant denominations have arranged a joint service but Catholics are not participating.
One Anglican minister said, "We have had no approach from the Catholics to join in onr united service. Last year they joined in a service in an unconsecrated hall, but this year they do not seem interested."
Fr. Anselm Pultanevitch, C.P., the Catholic parish priest, said: "The Mass is our service. Anything else is second best."