BISHOP of London the Right Reverend Richard Chartres has urged Christian clergymen to start growing beards in a bid to enable them to be better equipped to reach out to members of the Muslim community.

Reverend Chartres, who is a firm advocate of inclusivity and religious tolerance among the faiths, said growing beards will allow Christian clergymen to emphasise their holiness to Muslims. He added that the modern fashion for facial hair should not be the preserve of hispters but would also be likely to impress those from Eastern cultures where wearing a beard could mark a man out as holy. 

Praising clergymen who had already begun the process, Reverend Chartres singled out two priests in Tower Hamlets, Reverend Adam Atkinson, the vicar of St Peter's church in Bethnal Green and Reverend Chris Rogers of All Hallows Bow. Both clergymen have grown bushy beards. 

Writing in the Church Times, Reverend Chartres, who himself sports a modest beard, said: "The discovery that two of the most energetic priests in east London had recently grown beards of an opulence that would not have disgraced a Victorian sage prompted me to look again at the barbate debate throughout Church history. The two priests work in parishes in Tower Hamlets, where most of the residents are Bangladeshi-Sylheti, for whom the wearing of a beard is one of the marks of a holy man." 

He said the desire of the clergy of Tower Hamlets to reach out to the culture of the majority of their parishioners can only be applauded. Reverend Chartres added that David Beckham, who he describes as the nearest thing to a secular saint, has 'stimulated countless imitators. 

One of the priests praised by the Bishop of London, the Reverend Atkinson, said he found having a beard had helped provide a connection with many people in his parish, around 85% of whom are Muslim. He added that he was persuaded to grow a beard by the staff at his local pub, the Hound Dog Barbers on Hackney Road.