Supermarket giant Tesco has confirmed that it will commence Sunday trading on the Isle of Lewis, despite strong local opposition.
Almost 2,000 people signed a petition calling on Tesco Stornoway to respect the “local Sunday tradition of rest”, but the retailer argues the change is necessary to “reduce footfall and congestion on Fridays and Saturdays”.
Ministers from the Free Church of Scotland, the Reformed Presbyterian Church and the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) also called on the supermarket chain to be mindful of the island’s long-standing Sabbath observance.
Christian Davies, Tesco Store Director in the Highlands and Islands, claimed the decision would allow the Stornoway branch “to balance the demand for seven-day opening while remaining respectful to local traditions and culture”.
Davies said that as a concession, Sunday opening hours would be restricted from noon until 8pm.
Staff have been informed of the decision, which comes into force on Sunday 17 November. Co-op, the island’s only other large supermarket, said it has no plans follow suit.
Although shops in Scotland do not have Sunday trading restrictions, employers must grant a shop worker’s request to opt-out of Sunday working.
Criticising the move, Stornoway North SNP councillor Gordon Murray said: “The Hebridean Sabbath has been a vanguard against modern day consumerism and, here on the islands, we have been brought up to seek rest and spiritual exercise on the Lord’s Day.
“It is an important day in a busy week where people can spend time with families without the pressures of work. It would be a great shame to see this jewel disappear for the sake of financial gain.”
Only a few decades ago, a high view of the Lord’s Day was standard among English-speaking evangelicals. Yet today, there are many Christians for whom the whole notion of one day set aside for God seems a quaint throw-back to Victorian values. It is easy to feel intimidated by the tide of this popular thinking within the evangelical world.
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