AFTER a protest during which a “Canticle of Indignation” was sung throughout holy communion, all exercise of the choir at Bangor Cathedral has been suspended, the Chapter confirmed on Sunday.
A cathedral spokesperson confirmed final week {that a} session on redundancies was below means. 5 of eight non-clergy posts are in danger. On the finish of the 11 a.m. service on Sunday 31 August, the choir staged a walkout (Information, 5 September).
A press release printed on-line by the Chapter on Sunday stated that it had met on the Monday following the service to mirror on what had occurred.
“This included the choir singing a specifically composed and completely inappropriate piece — entitled ‘Canticle of Indignation’ -— while members of the congregation had been receiving Holy Communion, and the strolling out of the choir instantly afterwards while the altar get together had been doing the ablutions. Chapter took the choice to pause all choir exercise for an preliminary interval of 1 month, with fast impact while we evaluation what occurred and take into account applicable subsequent steps.
“This pause may even present a possibility for dialogue between the Chapter and Choir. In the intervening time, please observe that Joe Cooper, Director of Music, is at present away from his duties.”
The previous week had been “tough for all of us who’re a part of the mission and ministry of our Cathedral Church right here in Bangor”, the assertion stated.
“Bangor Cathedral is experiencing a big shortfall between expenditure and revenue. This has far outstripped any elevated revenue, leading to a monetary deficit that, if unaddressed, will place stress on our reserves. . . While the monetary state of affairs could be very difficult, additionally it is redeemable. However solely with pressing motion.”
The projected operational deficit on the finish of 2025 was £300,000, placing “an unsustainable stress on reserves, which might result in chapter by the top of 2026”.
The assertion highlighted funding within the cathedral’s salaried staffing between 2021 and 2024, throughout which era positions that had been carried out by volunteers got to paid workers. “A lot was achieved and far has been discovered,” it stated. Staffing — and related — prices of £321,000 would account for two-thirds of the cathedral’s finances. Whereas the Consultant Physique would cowl non-clergy workers prices of £84,000, this is able to nonetheless go away a shortfall of £120,000. The Chapter was additionally foregoing the annual grant from Bangor Diocesan Board of Finance — £61,000 — in an effort to repay a debt.
“Chapter members are deeply conscious that that is an unsettling time,” the assertion stated. The brand new Dean, the Revd Dr Manon Ceridwen James, was “dedicated to affected person listening and reconciliation”, and would take up her duties on the finish of subsequent week.
The interval of spending highlighted within the assertion occurred when the Bangor Diocesan Secretary, Canon Siôn Rhys Evans, was serving as Sub-Dean and Canon Treasurer of Bangor Cathedral. He didn’t train any ministry on the cathedral from March 2024.
Among the many points raised in a serious-incident report back to the Charity Fee was the expenditure of £418,000 on new furnishings for the cathedral, the majority of the price borne by the DBF, with “insufficient session and knowledge”, a bunch of whistle-blowers stated. The Dean and Chapter have already agreed to pay again to the DBF funds spent on journeys overseas that ought to have been their very own bills (Information, 6 June).
