The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Threats to boycott shop if it continues Sunday trade
Religion: Owner ‘harassed’ by group
A shop owner on the Isle of Lewis claims she has been the victim of “appalling” harassment and intimidation by Sabbatarians after opening on Sundays.
Among the threats made were that people would boycott the tweed shop in Stornoway – believed to be the only retail shop in the town centre to open on Sundays – because it traded on the Sabbath.
In the latest incident, Tweed Tastic proprietor Leona Rawlinson was sent a bible, accompanied by a letter from Dan MacPhail, Secretary of Day One/ Lord’s Day Observance Society. “The purpose of our letter is certainly not to intimidate you into closing on Sunday . . . nor are we aware of any organized campaign in relation to this matter,” Mr MacPhail wrote. “However, it is a sincere and humble request that you consider closing the shop on the Lord’s Day.”
The letter continues: “We are concerned for the spiritual and eternal as well as temporal consequences of such actions of Sunday opening and do not believe that lasting blessing or profit will follow. Indeed, we are aware of many
“The behaviour of this minority group has been appalling”
Christians expressing disappointment that such an interesting shop as Tweed Tastic is trading on Sundays and that solely because of this they are refusing to give of their patronage.”
In August, Ms Rawlinson says she was approached by a man who came into the shop one Sunday to express his views on the shop’s business hours and to distribute leaflets. Ms Rawlinson felt so intimidated that she reported it to the police. In another incident, she said a woman entered the shop in Church Street and “started shouting” about not keeping the Lord’s Day holy.
“It’s really important to say that this does not represent the majority of Christians, just one or two extremists,” said Ms Rawlinson, 40. “I opened on Sundays because of demand, but the behaviour of this minority group has been awful and appalling.”
Mark Roberts, managing director of Day One/Lord’s Day Observance Society, said: “The letter was kind and showed appreciation for the new venture, but explained the reservations that Mr MacPhail and others in the communities that he represents have over the Lord’s Day and this shop trading. We support his approach over the matter.
“To go and shout at the shopkeeper is not the way to do things.”