St Mary’s Church – Photographers Not Welcome This Christmas.
On a recent visit St Mary’s Church in Whitby I was rather disappointed to learn The Churches policy of no photography in the church without prior permission from the parish head office.
Having walked from west cliff, through town, up the 199 steps to photograph the beautiful Christmas trees It came as quite a shock to be told I now had to walk back into town, to visit the churches main office, which was closed, to seek permission to take photographs of The Christmas trees.
Spokesman for The Church Mr Whippy politely informed me that “If the images were to be published anywhere online I would need special permission from The Parish headquarters”
Wondering what could be so wrong with taking pictures of Christmas trees I enquired why The Church would not want some good publicity, which publishing pictures of their lovely Christmas trees would surely bring.
Again Mr Whippy politely added – “You could be THE PRESS” for all we know. Shocked at hearing this I enquired, again very politely, what would be the problem with The Press taking pictures of the lovely christmas trees.
Mr Whippy’s only answer was it was Church policy of no publicity and I would have to seek permission to photograph in the Church from Church HQ, which was now closed.
So that visit to the church ended somewhat unpleasantly for me. My thoughts on the matter being, The Church depends on visitors and donations to survive. How many donations will they miss out on if they discourage photographers from visiting the church.
Also I found the attitude less than Christian. In these modern times the church really needs all the friends it can get.
What would Jesus Do ?
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