By Lois McCarthy,Wales News Service
Copyright walesonline
A Welsh cathedral has suspended its choir from services after members staged a dramatic walkout during Holy Communion in protest at looming staff redundancies. Worshippers at historic Bangor Cathedral looked on in surprise on Sunday, September 7, as the 20-strong choir left their places and filed silently into the vestry. The priests were still ministering at the altar, having just distributed wafers and wine, when the choristers staged their protest. Witnesses said the clergy carried on as if nothing unusual was happening while the silent procession of singers moved past them towards the door. “I have never heard of anything like this happening before,” one member of the congregation said. “It indicates how upset members of the choir are after being told they are likely to lose their jobs. They walked out in a dignified manner. “Members of the congregation were clearly thrown by what happened and didn’t immediately start singing the next hymn as usually they would have followed the choir’s lead.” Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here . The walkout followed warnings that five out of eight permanent cathedral staff face redundancy as part of cost-cutting measures. The choir has been directly affected by a proposal to halve the working hours of its director of music raising fears of “swingeing cuts” to its future. Bangor Cathedral, which dates back 1,500 years and whose choir has appeared on BBC’s Songs of Praise, has been struggling financially and institutionally in recent years. It was shaken earlier this year by the retirement of Andy John, the former Archbishop of Wales, who stepped down as Bishop of Bangor. His sudden retirement came after the release of two damning reports into the culture of the diocese. The documents highlighted inappropriate behaviour, blurred boundaries, excessive drinking, and sexual misconduct. Amid these latest tensions cathedral documents have warned staff that “any breach of confidentiality may result in disciplinary action”. In a statement Bangor Cathedral confirmed all choir activity has been suspended for a month in response to Sunday’s protest. It read: “This included the choir singing a specially-composed and entirely inappropriate piece – entitled Canticle of Indignation – whilst members of the congregation were receiving Holy Communion and the walking out of the choir immediately afterwards whilst the altar party were doing the ablutions. “Chapter took the decision to pause all choir activity for an initial period of one month with immediate effect whilst we review what happened and consider appropriate next steps. “This pause will also provide an opportunity for dialogue between the chapter and choir. In the meantime please note that Joe Cooper, director of music, is currently away from his duties.” The past week had been “difficult for all of us who are part of the mission and ministry of our Cathedral Church here in Bangor”, the statement concluded.
