This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/north_east/5399292.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
War veterans' Poppy Day boycott War veterans' Poppy Day boycott
(about 23 hours later)
Former soldiers will boycott a Remembrance Sunday church service because the vicar will not read out the names of World War I dead.Former soldiers will boycott a Remembrance Sunday church service because the vicar will not read out the names of World War I dead.
Members of the Royal British Legion in Chirk, Wrexham, are refusing to attend the St Mary's Church service over their dispute with the Reverend Tony Rees. Members of the Royal British Legion in Chirk, Wrexham, are refusing to attend the St Mary's Church service over their dispute with Reverend Tony Rees.
Chirk Town Council will not officially attend the service either.Chirk Town Council will not officially attend the service either.
Mr Rees said he was "fed up to the back teeth," adding: "It's not the British Legion's job to run a church service".Mr Rees said he was "fed up to the back teeth," adding: "It's not the British Legion's job to run a church service".
He added: "The vicar is in charge of the church service.He added: "The vicar is in charge of the church service.
I think naming names from the first and second world wars limits the scope of Remembrance Sunday The Reverend Tony Rees "It's absolutely trivial to say 'I'm not coming to church because you're not doing it my way.'I think naming names from the first and second world wars limits the scope of Remembrance Sunday The Reverend Tony Rees "It's absolutely trivial to say 'I'm not coming to church because you're not doing it my way.'
"I'm fed up to the back teeth of it.""I'm fed up to the back teeth of it."
Mr Rees said he decided to make changes to the traditional Remembrance Sunday service when he took over as vicar in 2002, and wanted to drop the reading of names of local people who died in the two wars.Mr Rees said he decided to make changes to the traditional Remembrance Sunday service when he took over as vicar in 2002, and wanted to drop the reading of names of local people who died in the two wars.
Names will be read out at the cenotaphNames will be read out at the cenotaph
But he said the Royal British Legion in Chirk disagreed.But he said the Royal British Legion in Chirk disagreed.
Eventually, a compromise was reached and for the past two years, only the names of the dead from WWII have been read out at the church.Eventually, a compromise was reached and for the past two years, only the names of the dead from WWII have been read out at the church.
This year though, members of the British Legion have said they will not attend the church service at all. Instead, they only want a service at the cenotaph, where the names of dead servicemen will be read out.This year though, members of the British Legion have said they will not attend the church service at all. Instead, they only want a service at the cenotaph, where the names of dead servicemen will be read out.
Rev Rees said: "I think naming names from the first and second world wars limits the scope of Remembrance Sunday.Rev Rees said: "I think naming names from the first and second world wars limits the scope of Remembrance Sunday.
"Sixty years ago we were remembering those two wars very vividly. Today we have to remember a long list of wars since as well."Sixty years ago we were remembering those two wars very vividly. Today we have to remember a long list of wars since as well.
"We have moved on since then - but the British Legion here hasn't.""We have moved on since then - but the British Legion here hasn't."
He added: "We have always gone to the church, and then gone on to the cenotaph.He added: "We have always gone to the church, and then gone on to the cenotaph.
All we want to do is remember fallen comrades at the cenotaph - as they do everywhere else across Wales Royal British Legion source "Of course, the British Legion are welcome to read all the names they want afterwards at the cenotaph. But they've got to let me run the church service as I see fit."All we want to do is remember fallen comrades at the cenotaph - as they do everywhere else across Wales Royal British Legion source "Of course, the British Legion are welcome to read all the names they want afterwards at the cenotaph. But they've got to let me run the church service as I see fit."
The town council has met to discuss the issue, and because of the divide in opinion, it has decided not to attend the church service in an official capacity - although individual members may still attend.The town council has met to discuss the issue, and because of the divide in opinion, it has decided not to attend the church service in an official capacity - although individual members may still attend.
Town clerk Sam Hughes said: "As a council, we will not be attending.Town clerk Sam Hughes said: "As a council, we will not be attending.
Some members of the British Legion will not attend churchSome members of the British Legion will not attend church
"The council will arrange a service at the cenotaph. All members, and everyone else is able to go to the church if they wish.""The council will arrange a service at the cenotaph. All members, and everyone else is able to go to the church if they wish."
A senior source at the town's British Legion, who did not want to be named, confirmed there had been "disagreements" with the church, and it was a "touchy subject" in the town.A senior source at the town's British Legion, who did not want to be named, confirmed there had been "disagreements" with the church, and it was a "touchy subject" in the town.
He added: "This service at the cenotaph is nothing to do with the church. It's to do with Remembrance Day, and that's basically what we want to do.He added: "This service at the cenotaph is nothing to do with the church. It's to do with Remembrance Day, and that's basically what we want to do.
"Reading the names is a very important thing for us - we have always done it at Chirk."Reading the names is a very important thing for us - we have always done it at Chirk.
"All we want to do is remember fallen comrades at the cenotaph - as they do everywhere else across Wales.""All we want to do is remember fallen comrades at the cenotaph - as they do everywhere else across Wales."