Posted By Rod Douglas Did anyone read this article in The Mail On Sunday 04 April? I had to check the date as I personally thought it to be an April Fool, but no, the Cannon of Shefields Anglican Cathedral is using 12 different sets of towels to dry the 12 pairs of feet he is going to wash on Maundy Thurday, as the Cannon stated "In the spirit of new Health & Safety Legislation, we will use a seperate towel for each person person to eliminate the risk of cross contamination" I was wondering where this NEW legislation came from? Anyone out there Know? The ramification of people having to use a seperate towel to dry their feet as they go to worship could be horrendous, take the Muslim faith these deeply religous people pray sometimes 3 times a day, but they must wash their feet every time they enter their Mosque and if the Mosque is to provide the towels the expense to be enormous or would they have to bring their own towel. Is this some Safety Officer from Sheffield Council trying to make a name for themselves? If this is new legislation then the world has gone and I am catching the next Bus to the Planet Zag...

Posted By Rod Douglas I'll get my coat!!!!

Posted By John Allen Why the fuss? If I have my feet washed the last thing I'd want is them dried with somebody else's smelly towel. We've had separate hand towels in wash rooms for years - why are feet different?

Posted By Rod Douglas Alec, Grab yer coat I have saved you a seat.... Chris a Towel PPE? It's to dry you not protect you!!!! With regards to The Cannon he has most definitely went on the advise of someone.... Tony B might want to chair a summit on it, he seems to be chairing everything else at present.... Ahhhh to the Tower with him....

Posted By Peter MacDonald Are feet still smelly after they've been washed! I hope the priest/vicar/whoever wears some non-silicon based surgical gloves for handing out the bread. Has he considered passive smoke from all the candles. In fact naked flames with all those flowing robes around is a disaster waiting to happen. What about the ergononmic/ muscle problems associated with wearing a big heavy hat for an hour while standing in a badly lit pupit with inadequate handrails. Towels are the least of the worries. Don't leave without me.

Posted By Rod Douglas John, I'm off then, obviously there is no help for me on this Planet, bye bye earthlings........................................

Posted By Ken Taylor Many churches have had individual 'cups' for 'communion' for some years - as a response to concern about cross-infection. Presumably the 12 towel method for ceremonial feet-washing is another step in that direction. I certainly wouldn't want to use someone else's towel after swimming (and, even less, one that had been used by 11 others before me). I should be interested to hear whether this keen approach to personal hygiene also applies in their toilets as a number of churches, I have found, have one 'grubby' towel hanging on a hook for general use after using the WC facilities. A number of 'restaurants' also seem to favour this approach. It is interesting that a socially and culturally acceptable gesture for sandal-wearing visitors at the time and dusty place when it occurred has become a matter of religious ritual. Perhaps a more modern act of welcome and humility could be found without associated health implications?

Posted By John Allen Wow! we've been saved! I heard on the radio this morning that the bishop is only to use a single towel. The HSE have stated that there is no regulation that prevents this. That's one in the eye for the politically correct/ Brussels bureaucrats /do -gooders/ civil claimers / accident chasing lawyers / liberal lefties / (or add your particular prejudice here). Thank goodness our British way of life which has been preserved for a thousand years has once again stood firm against this intolerable onslaught. Now get back up those chimneys you little blighters and don't complain about the soot, it won't do you any harm!