Women's Institute members told: 'Don't say prayers at carol concerts - it will offend non-Christians'

Jane Harris, a regional chairman of the organisation, said prayers were "not appropriate" because many WI members are non-Christians.

"Although most non-Christians are happy to go along with the Christmas traditions, the WI is a secular organisation and therefore we should not include prayers at these events," Mrs Harris said in her column in a WI newsletter.

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"My friends and relatives know that I am an atheist and it is time we atheists stood up for ourselves," she continued. "I've never believed in the Tooth Fairy or Father Christmas, and became an atheist at 11."

Mrs Harris, 63, who represents nearly 5,000 members in 150 groups in the Leicestershire and Rutland WI, added: "Please don't make assumptions about people's beliefs at any WI event - we are not all of the same mind."

However, her comments provoked numerous complaints.

Regional secretary June Goodwin said: "We will be having a meeting in the first week of January and we've been asked to bring this up because one or two people are a little bit upset about it. I didn't feel it was quite appropriate for a Christmas newsletter."

Margaret Gamble, secretary of Groby WI in Leicestershire, said she had also received complaints from members.

She said: "She shouldn't make the column personal. We don't impose our opinions on anybody else, and a lot of members thought she should have just stuck to WI matters."

June Whiting, president of nearby Ullesthorpe WI, added: "The column was raised at our last meeting and there were several complaints. We had a carol concert earlier in the month and we had our new priest in charge and said some prayers. It was what everyone wanted."

Christian groups condemned Mrs Harris's call for a ban. Mike Judge, spokesman for the Christian Institute, said: "If they're having a Christmas carol concert then they are clearly celebrating a Christian festival.

"So the idea of not saying prayers seems ridiculous. I might expect this kind of thing from a trendy liberal council, but I'd expect better from a WI leader.

"This is another example of political correctness creeping in to society and downgrading Christianity."

Last night, Mrs Harris, who lives in Leicester with her husband, apologised for any offence she may have caused.

She said: "I realise I probably shouldn't have written it because it has rather upset a lot of people.

"People have complained, but I've also had messages of support. In retrospect, it was a silly thing to do."