Latest news with #churchcontroversy
BBC News
04-07-2025
- BBC News
Bangor Cathedral had 'binge drinking culture' at diocese
Priests and choristers at a cathedral mired in controversy did a "seven last shots of Christ" drinking game at a pub on Good Friday after services at the Archbishop of Wales' who sang with the choir at Bangor Cathedral have told the BBC there "seemed to be any excuse to bring out the wine" and "go to the pub" because of a "binge drinking culture".The claims come days after Andrew John retired as Archbishop of Wales with immediate effect after two critical reports highlighted safeguarding concerns and misbehaviour at his Bangor Church in Wales said the "abuse of alcohol is always inappropriate" and said a policy regarding alcohol use was being developed. Mr John will also retire as Bishop of Bangor on 31 August but the church has called for a series of reviews and investigations of his diocese and comes after reports highlighted "a culture in which sexual boundaries seemed blurred", excessive alcohol consumption and governance and safeguarding there is no suggestion the then archbishop, the leader of the Church in Wales, behaved inappropriately, the church's representative body said there must be a "change in leadership, procedures and governance in the diocese of Bangor". Jessica, not her real name, said she was assaulted by someone who was trying to become a priest who had been drinking at a Bangor Cathedral Oktoberfest event in 2022."He had had considerably too much to drink," she told the BBC."I'd already warned people that night he's drinking a lot more than everyone else. So these warning signs were ignored and that led to that assault."Jessica, now in her early 20s, said another person was also sexually assaulted by the man at the event in the 6th Century Gwynedd reported it and he apologised, but she said the drinking culture didn't change."Several bottles of prosecco would be gone through on a Sunday morning," Jessica added."Any sort of external event or big internal event there was prosecco or wine."The Church in Wales confirmed that Jessica was one of two people who complained about the man's behaviour and his priest training was not taken forward. 'Seven last shots of Christ' After a cathedral concert on Good Friday in 2023, members of the choir went for drinks."A few of the priests came out with the choir," recalled Jessica. "It was deemed appropriate to do the seven last shots of Christ."The Seven Last Words of Christ refers to seven last sentences that Jesus spoke from the Cross on Good Friday as quoted in the Bible."Because Christ has seven last words, therefore we sang seven pieces of the seven last words in the concert - and that somehow translated into seven shots of Christ," she recalled."I think I left after the first shot because I was like 'I don't think this is appropriate'. There's too many people taking shots in dog collars for me to be comfortable."Jessica said she went on a tour to Rome with the choir in June 2023."Every night we'd go to a bar first and then a restaurant," she recalled."At the time I was teetotal. I would be like I don't want wine, I don't want to drink in this situation. I don't want alcohol. "That would not be an okay answer, that would be questioned beyond belief. Like, this alcohol is free. Why are you not taking it? You should have it." Esme Byrd was a lay clerk at Bangor Cathedral for six months and regularly sang with the choir until leaving in January 29-year-old said the culture and attitude to alcohol was "deeply unhealthy" with some people getting "really catastrophically drunk"."There was a culture of binge drinking," said Esme."Not necessarily all the time, but certainly there was a lot of alcohol around almost all the services or various events. It seemed to be any excuse to bring out the wine, any excuse to go to the pub."Esme, who sometimes worked directly with the children in the choir, said she became concerned about the wellbeing of younger members of the choir, especially the language used around them."It was the level of 18-rated sexual jokes, crude sexual humour done in front of children as young as six or seven," said Esme. "In terms of safeguarding training, there was absolutely nothing. There was no training, so in terms of certainly me starting and me doing my job, there was no training of anything whatsoever." Esme said she was only asked to do a DBS check a couple of weeks after starting, despite being appointed months in advance."I looked around and I just thought, this is not safe," Esme told BBC Wales Investigates. "This is not a safe and nurturing and good environment for children to be in."She added: "It felt a lot more like a badly run after school club rather than a professional organisation."Esme said she raised her concerns but eventually left because she became frustrated with the lack of action."It's not a sense of malevolence, but a huge sense of negligence and neglect and not following good practice," added Esme."Creating the space where a malevolent actor could have done almost whatever they wanted."The Church in Wales said "concerns about a drinking culture" prompted them to investigate and said alcohol was "not now generally available" after services.A spokesperson said they did not believe that Bangor Cathedral was unsafe for children, but said improvements to policy and practice were spokesperson said: "Previous concerns about a drinking culture at the Cathedral contributed to the decision to undertake a Bishop's visitation. "The Implementation Group who are addressing the recommendations from the visitation are developing a policy concerning alcohol use. Alcohol is not now generally available after services."The inappropriate use of alcohol within and during cathedral-related activities included encouragement by some towards others to consume alcohol. "This inappropriate behaviour is addressed in the actions which are required following the visitation process."DBS checks are required and safeguarding training delivered in line with UK legislation, and the Church in Wales policies."Regarding the blessing of beer, the spokesperson said this was occasionally practised in churches but that "the abuse of alcohol is always inappropriate".
Daily Mail
04-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Unholy row tears a once-thriving village church apart as furious bishop hits out at the upset parishioners who want rid of their controversial rector
An unholy row has torn apart a previously blissful church congregation in a small town in Cheshire after the appointment of a controversial rector who has allegedly caused so much division some parishioners get a nosebleed talking about it. Rev Dr Janine Arnott was appointed to her role in Malpas, near the Welsh border, in June 2022, and presided over her congregation at 14th-century church St Oswald's as it dwindled from 60 to just ten. Now the feud between the reverend and the town has become so heated an entire choir has been sacked, a bishop left furious, poison pen letters have littered the town and the chief bell ringer removed from their post. The row escalated so severely that Right Reverend Bishop Mark Tanner has sent a letter warning of the 'devastating' effects to upset parishioners - and police have even become involved. The last straw for locals is said to have come in May when, during VE Day celebrations, Rev Arnott was accused of refusing to allow a village choir to sing a rendition of I Vow to Thee My Country in the churchyard. The discontent began during a meeting with the church choir in 2023, in which Rev Arnott told members they could no longer sing the Agnus Dei, which is a prayer that often precedes Communion, in Latin due to canon rules. Resident Diana Webber resigned her position over the disagreement, and reported Rev Arnott 'appeared to have taken a dislike to the choir.' A PCC meeting held soon afterwards on Palm Sunday resulted in a vote of no confidence in Rev Arnott, which she lost by a landslide, led by disgruntled parishioner Liane Smith, 65. Following the meeting, Ms Smith was accused of attempting to publish minutes from the meeting in the parish newsletter, but this was vetoed by Rev Arnott. Ms Smith told the Times: 'They were shortened minutes, but they had the salient facts in. Just to fit on an A5 page in the back of the parish news. And that was considered 'vexatious'.' Rev Arnott reportedly then asked Ms Smith to step back from her roles related to the church and as editor of the parish newsletter - although is said to have made clear she was still welcome to attend church. 'I thought that was quite excessive and had nothing to do with the fact that I had published, or attempted to publish the minutes,' she said. 'I left the church at that point [… ] My husband and I have been married for 45 years and have been churchgoers for that whole time. Now we no longer go to any church.' Ms Smith's departure prompted a flood of church laypersons to leave their positions, leaving Rev Arnott ever more isolated. Malpas residents have reported being distressed by the feud that has taken over their once-peaceful town, with one telling journalists they couldn't talk about it without getting a nosebleed. Since her appointment, the rector has been accused of banning individuals from the church choir - which has since been disbanded - removing chief bellringer Ben Kellett and barring access to the bell tower with broomsticks. Local Dr Gregory Williams, 60, said: 'Within a short period of time, the director of music resigned and the choir left. A while later, the tower captain was locked out of the bell tower with no explanation given and the bell tower door was barricaded. 'The bells fell silent. The congregation numbers soon collapsed, and at the current time, very little money is coming into the church.' Then this Easter, anonymous poison pen letters and flyers bearing the seal of the Diocese of Chester appeared on cars and were stuck to the walls of the Cathedral of Cheshire. They read: 'Dear Bishop Mark. Please do your moral duty and protect your flock. We shouldn't have to keep toeing the line only to get demonised by you. It's disgusting. 'You wasted our time and kept your hands clean for three years now at our expense. You know it, as do we.' Bishop Tanner was left so angry by the move he issued a letter to Malpas residents slamming them as 'anonymous, factually incorrect, libellous, and sought by forgery to impersonate a bishop.' He added: 'The impact on any future recruitment of clergy to serve in Malpas is devastating. 'We who have a long-term concern for the life and work of St Oswald's Church need to realise how this behaviour will appear to any candidates in the future who are considering moving to serve the village. 'If we wish to present a different image, we must take action to express the kind of community we believe ourselves to be. I am, of course, aware that there are other issues of concern in the church and village, and am fully engaged with every valid concern that is raised.' The Church's legal team also wrote to the PCC and accused critics of misogynism. 'Of particular alarm is the misogynist tone of the letter - it is difficult not to comprehend the inference that your lawfully appointed incumbent is akin to a witch with a broomstick and the village should attend an 'Open Forum' on the matter,' it read. 'This isn't childish or petty, it is unlawful and inexcusable harassment.' The Diocese of Chester said: 'We are concerned and deeply saddened by the ongoing tensions within parts of the Malpas church community which have presented significant challenges within the parish. The Bishop of Chester has been fully involved in responding to these matters and actively seeking a resolution. 'It is entirely appropriate for parishioners to raise concerns or seek clarification on leadership and pastoral matters, however there appears to be an intention by some to cause damage, disruption, and division. 'The police and other authorities are now involved due to the nature and content of these activities. The Rector is receiving appropriate support and will not be commenting publicly. 'We continue to pray for healing and understanding within the parish and ask all involved to engage respectfully and constructively.' A spokesperson for Cheshire Constabulary has asked anyone with information about the case to contact them. A spokesperson for the Force said: 'We can confirm that we have received reports of harassment related to the Church in Malpas. 'The allegations were reported on Sunday April 20 and enquiries are in the early stages at this time. 'Anyone with any information is asked to contact quoting IML 2066815.'
