SOCIAL attitudes are changing fast.

Britain is becoming more secular with 52 per cent of 3,000 people in a recent national survey saying that they do not belong to any particular religion and 66 per cent stating they have not attended a religious service in the past year.

Perhaps religion has been replaced more by ‘faith’ or spiritual belief?

I believe so, that’s why I boldly stated recently that our Golden Gates do hold spiritual meaning for some.

So what’s my evidence? – well it’s certainly not Zen Buddhists sat in a circle near them or regular church services.

Although I do admit to taking my prayer mat and communicating with a higher level near the Gates before the Challenge Cup Final and it worked!

At times of crisis in our town people need spiritual meaning and support and take comfort by gathering near the Gates.

Increasingly they are used as a backdrop for weddings and of course each year they are opened up for the great faith celebration and procession – Warrington Walking Day.

Increasingly the refurbished gates are places for meetings and gatherings.

All public arts/major engineering structures evoke public emotion and feeling, this is what our Gates do.

Interestingly the same survey suggested that trust in science is high and the public are increasingly comfortable with science and technology having an influence in private and public life.

This is an interesting shift in attitude as in 2016 the then Justice Secretary declared that people in this country have had enough of ‘experts’.

Now it seems that people hold scientists in high regard, 85 per cent of the poll trust scientists to do their work with the clear intention to benefit the public, compared to the decreasing confidence in the church.

The philosophical debates about science and religion are complex and longstanding.

In a town where we promote science and technology as well as cherishing our faiths and religion it’s a debate that will no doubt long continue.

In the meantime the Golden Gates continue to evoke public reaction and are a major symbol and brand for the town.

I am proud of this.