Norwich Council has suspended the opening prayer at council meetings following a Supreme Court decision, but hopes to find a lawful way to keep the tradition.
NORWICH - The Township of Norwich is looking at ways to keep the prayer at the beginning of their council meetings.
In April the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that prayer should be eliminated from council meetings in Canada. Mayor Larry Martin tells Heart FM he was very surprised to hear the decision from the Supreme Court. "I know I have talked to some mayors and they say, 'Well we go into another room and have a prayer and then come out.' So basically we have the leaders of our community going into a back room to have a prayer, and that's not right."
Norwich was the only council in Oxford who began their meetings with a prayer and it was done on a rotation basis by councillors.
Martin says they are going to suspend the prayer for the meeting tonight and will take a serious look at it during the council session in May. He says they have one member of council away on vacation and wants to have everyone present before making a decision.
Martin wants council to explore a legal way to keep saying the prayer even it it is not an official part of the meeting.

Interview with the Warden - August 13th, 2026
South-West Oxford Candidate Profile - John de Bruyn
Oxford OPP Briefs - August 13, 2026
Woodstock Candidate Profile - Aaron Gorlick
Miracle Treat Day Arrives in Oxford
Fog Advisory Issued for Oxford
Oxford OPP Briefs - Aug. 12th, 2026
Woodstock Candidate Profile - Connie Lauder
Stunt Driver Busted in Thamesford
A New Home for the Mount Elgin Library?
One Dead in Three Vehicle Crash in Perth County
Impaired Driver Charged in Tavistock
Woodstock Candidate Profile - Kate Leatherbarrow
Oxford County to Review Tavistock Paramedic Station
Charges Laid in Single Vehicle Crash
Items Stolen from Parked Vehicle in Waterford
Interview with the Mayor - August 10th, 2026
UPDATE: More Storms Expected for Woodstock
SIU Invokes Mandate in Embro
Last Call for Sticker Design Contest
Comments
Add a comment