A 75-YEAR-OLD ANGLICAN VICAR KNELT AND WASHED THE FEET OF 10 COLOURED CHILDREN DURING A SERVICE THIS EASTER WEEKEND. THE SIMPLE CEREMONY TOOK PLACE DURING AN EVENING SERVICE CONDUCTED BY THE REVEREND JOHN PUTTERILL OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH AT THAXTED, NEAR LONDON, U.K.

REVEREND PUTTERILL'S GESTURE WAS, HE SAID, A TOKEN EXPRESSING 'SORROW AT THE DEATH OF MARTIN LUTHER KING'. BUT HIS GESTURE HAS THE WEIGHT OF CHURCH TRADITION BEHIND IT - THE COMMEMORATION OF JESUS WASHING HIS DISCIPLES' FEET DURING THE LAST SUPPER.

DURING THE COURSE OF THE SERVICE, THE REVEREND PUTTERILL PRAYED FOR THE SOUL OF MARTIN LUTHER KING:
SPEAKING BEFORE THE CEREMONY, THE REVEREND PUTTERILL SAID THAT IT WAS NOT FOR THE RICH AND POWERFUL NATIONS TO DOMINATE AND LORD IT OVER THEIR WEAKER NEIGHBOURS. IT WAS NOT FOR THE WHITE RACES TO EXPLOIT THEIR WEAKER COLOURED BRETHREN. WE MUST BE READY, HE AFFIRMED, TO USE OUR STRENGTH AND OUR GIFTS TO SERVE AND CO-OPERATE WITH ALL OTHER, WHATEVER THEIR COLOUR OR CREED, WHATEVER THEIR NATIONALITY. IN SHORT, THIS WAS THE DREAM OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING.

LATER REVEREND PUTTERILL TOLD REPORTERS: "WE OWE THE COLOURED PEOPLE SO MUCH YET WE ABUSE THEM AND EXPLOIT THEM. IT IS A MIRACLE THERE IS NO RACIAL VIOLENCE IN BRITAIN."