I WAS very surprised to read about the reaction of Martin Foley, speaking for the Pro-Life movement on hearing of the proposal to re-house the Cedar Tree Pregnancy Crisis Centre in the Crypt of St Nicholas' Church.

To dismiss this as a "so-called pregnancy and abortion advice centre' does it a great disservice.

As for it being unwelcome in a Christian building, this shows a lack of knowledge of the origins of the Cedar Tree Trust.

The Trust was one of the organisations that grew out of an initiative called "Jesus in the City", which in the early 1990s was supported by several churches in Worcester.

It investigated ways to be of service to the community, and how to train people for this.

At that time, abortion was being energetically promoted, with very little pre-abortion counselling.

The Cedar Tree founders wanted to provide a place where anyone facing an unplanned pregnancy could be assured of free, friendly and confidential advice and help. Obviously, this was in the hope that given time, and a place to talk, away from the pressures they were under, they would decide that abortion was not the answer.

That breathing space to gather information and explore their own situation, has been of great benefit to many people, men as well as women, in all sorts of age groups and situations.

Under the auspices of the Christian charity Care, the work of the Cedar Tree expanded into providing post-abortion counselling for those suffering, sometimes years later, after taking the seemingly "easy" option of abortion.

They are also involved in work within secondary schools to inform and provide opportunities for discussions around this issue.

The centre was named because of the tree outside its present home in Barbourne, which symbolised a safe anchor, reaching out to those who needed a haven within its branches.

I am sure that a branch of The Cedar Tree Pregnancy Crisis Centre would be a great asset to the premises of any church.

L J MARCHANT,

Bewdley.