News by email Donate

Suggestions

Top Stories

Most Read

Popular Videos

Avebury-in-Wiltshire-main_article_image.jpg
Wikimedia Commons/Tony Grist
UK News

National Trust property to return 'before Christ' to its signs

The conservation group said it preferred the traditional terms after a twelve-foot-high banner at Avebury Manor displayed the BCE and CE annotations.

A spokesman told Premier: "The National Trust's editorial style is to use AD and BC when writing dates and this has been the case for many years.

"We do this to ensure a consistent approach and will be looking at the way the dates are written at Avebury Manor."

Visitors who complained about the banner told The Daily Telegraph they were informed by staff there have been numerous negative comments.

One tourist at the attraction, David Pearson told newspaper: "BC and AD go back an awful long way and they work perfectly well. If it isn't broken, why tamper with it?

"All it does is offend Christians, yet I very much doubt people of a different persuasion, or no persuasion, are offended by the normal version."

Last year, the National Trust was accused of "airbrushing faith" when the word Easter disappeared from marketing material promoting its annual egg hunt.

Cadbury

The use of BCE and CE have both grown during recent years. On the Religion and Ethics -Tool page of its website, the BBC says it favours the terms as a "religiously neutral alternative to BC/AD".

Anno domini means 'in the year of the Lord'.

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our daily newsletter and receive more stories like this straight to your inbox every morning.

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate