Latest news with #IVowToTheeMyCountry
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘The bell tower door was barricaded': The 14th-century church at war over its priest
Not much happens in Malpas, a small Cheshire market town set in lush countryside near the border of Wales. With a stately medieval church at its centre, a population of roughly 1,600, and an overactive Facebook group, the biggest news is usually distributed by the parish newsletter and is no more scandalous than the cancellation of the number 41 bus. Recently, however, Malpas has been set alight by an explosive row between its rector and her parishioners – one that has made national headlines and torn the church and the town in two. On an early summer's afternoon in the centre of town, the church is locked and the surrounding roads are quiet. With my notebook and a photographer in tow, a dog walker eyes me warily. The people of Malpas are not used to the media attention. Parochial disputes like this also do not usually make it out of the pages of the Church Times, but the heated battle for St Oswald's, a 14th-century church set atop a hill in the centre of Malpas, has unfolded in a spectacularly dramatic fashion. Once you get people started on the subject, the floodgates open. A vocal group of parishioners and former lay people claim that the Rev Dr Janine Arnott, the rector in question, has taken what was a thriving rural parish – an increasing rarity in the Church of England – and put its flock asunder. She is variously accused of banning individuals from the choir (it has since been disbanded entirely), removing the chief bellringer, barring access to the bell tower with 'broomsticks', and has reportedly overseen the dwindling of the congregation of around 60 to fewer than 10 people. The recent village-wide celebrations of VE Day in May this year were seen by many to be the last straw, as Arnott reportedly declined to allow a village choir to sing a rendition of I Vow To Thee My Country in the churchyard (her detractors claim that this was because some members were her ex-congregants). 'The story here is of a complete lack of accountability of a newly trained minister who is clearly having difficulty running her first parish,' claims one parishioner, Dr Gregory Williams, 60. '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,' he says. In fact, the tower captain, Ben Kellett, had apparently found himself locked out of the tower after declining Arnott's request to sign a 'volunteer' agreement outlining his duties. Arnott had also asked Kellett for a list of churchgoers with keys to the tower and, it is claimed, took issue when he did not provide one. Several parishioners wrote to the Bishop of Cheshire, the Right Rev Mark Tanner, hoping to persuade him to intervene, and even filed an 'informal' complaint, which wasn't upheld. Now, an insurgent group of Malpas parishioners or allies – their identities remain unknown – have taken matters into their own hands, and Tanner has had to intervene after 'libellous' flyers signed from the 'Little Malpas People' were plastered around Chester Cathedral over Easter. One of the flyers, glued to the exterior of the cathedral with permanent adhesive, said: '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.' Notes were also left on the windscreens of cars nearby in envelopes that appeared to bear the seal of the Diocese of Chester. It signified a nasty escalation of a dispute that has been raging since Arnott was appointed to take over the large rural parish in June 2022. In a letter sent to churchgoers, Tanner said the leaflets calling for her removal were 'anonymous, factually incorrect, libellous, and sought by forgery to impersonate a bishop.' A separate letter to the parochial church council (PCC) from the diocesan legal team, which was leaked to the local newspaper, the Whitchurch Herald, last month, said Arnott is a victim of 'unlawful and inexcusable harassment'. One churchgoer, meanwhile, told The Telegraph that she has been so upset by the rector's behaviour that she can't speak about the dispute without getting a nosebleed. The rift began with an unlikely argument over the Agnus Dei. In a meeting with the church choir in 2023 that has since become infamous locally, Arnott told them they could no longer sing this prayer (which often precedes Communion) in Latin as they had done for years, as this was against canon law. Diana Webber, a former safeguarding officer, resigned over this disagreement and Arnott's handling of relationships with parishioners. From the start, she was 'very concerned about [Arnott's] attitude,' Webber says, claiming that Arnott 'appeared to have taken a dislike to the choir.' A PCC meeting was called shortly afterwards – unfortunately, on Palm Sunday, the first day of Holy Week, despite protestations from members of the council. The meeting became heated when Liane Smith, 65, a former PCC member, stood up and called a vote of no confidence over the rector's 'authoritarian' leadership style. It turns out, perhaps unsurprisingly given the scale of the row, that confidence was in short supply. '[Arnott] counted the votes and it was, if I recall correctly, 23 had no confidence, three had confidence in her, and six abstained,' Smith says (this was before the alleged exodus of church members took place). Arnott said she had been 'trying to run the church calmly in the face of strong opposition', according to minutes of the meeting. In an apparent attempt to oust her, Smith then attempted to publish the minutes of the meeting (including the details of the vote against Arnott) in the parish newsletter, but says she was prevented from doing so by the rector. 'They were shortened minutes, but they had the salient facts in,' she says. 'Just to fit on an A5 page in the back of the parish news. And that was considered 'vexatious'.' Despite losing a vote of confidence, Arnott remained in post. Smith was subsequently asked by Arnott to step down from her roles, including as the parish newsletter's editor (Arnott made clear, though, that she was welcome to continue worshipping at the 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 says. '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.' Most of the existing church laypersons eventually resigned or were asked to leave. They carry with them a range of grievances and accusations, some more reasonable than others. Among the complaints is the disbanding of a longstanding, talented church choir. One anonymous parishioner criticises Dr Arnott as 'one of those born-again Christians' who does not face the East (face the altar) for Communion. What is clear, however, is that deep ill-feeling runs on both sides. The situation escalated this year with leaflets distributed to Malpas residents and plastered on Chester Cathedral calling for Arnott's removal. It is not known who is responsible. While some locals say this smear campaign has undermined their genuine concerns about the running of the Church – one said they were 'furious' as it 'gives them a bad name' – others are unrepentant. Williams describes the flyers as 'not an act of crime but actually a courageous act, a heartfelt cry for help from yet one more individual or group of people who feel that they are being let down by the Church of England.' A spokesperson for the diocese of Chester says that parishes 'operate with a large degree of autonomy, provided they act within legal boundaries', adding: 'The Bishop and other diocesan figures have limited scope to intervene directly in parish matters. However, we have consistently offered support, guidance, and assistance throughout this situation as we would elsewhere. 'Whilst it would not be right to comment publicly on personal pastoral matters, wherever the diocese is aware of matters which require response, appropriate action is taken involving other authorities where necessary. 'The Bishop is aware of the concerns raised locally in and around St Oswald's and has been engaging through proper channels. Whilst we are not commenting further at this time in order to care for those involved, all are encouraged to remain in conversation, and support is available for anyone who wishes to access it.' Arnott declined to comment. Parish disputes – even those as bitter as this – are, sadly, increasingly common. In a curiously similar case in Wiltshire, for instance, a church choir refused to continue singing over a dispute with their vicar, Father Oliver Learmont, and his handling of relationships in the parish. A number of lay people resigned. Last year, Church of England clergy warned that some vicars were being bullied out of their posts by parishioners, who were taking over PCC meetings and launching malicious email campaigns against them. Some in Malpas feel the discord in parish churches – which have, for generations, been the backbone of the Church of England – points to a lack of direction in the organisation as a whole. That appears unlikely to be rectified any time soon, with the Church awaiting the appointment of a new archbishop of Canterbury, seven months after Justin Welby announced that he planned to stand down over failures in the handling of an abuse scandal. 'The state of the Church of England at the moment is very sad,' says one churchgoer. 'They can choose a Pope in a fortnight. How much longer do we have to wait for directions from the top?' In the meantime, it's clear there will be no winners in Malpas' unholy civil war. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
ITV News
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ITV News
Chelsea pensioner Colin Thackery sings emotional hymn as UK remembers VE day
The 'Britain's Got Talent' winner sung 'I Vow To Thee My Country' on the boat that carried Churchill's coffin, as the UK marked the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The VE Day 2025 celebrations near you and how to get involved
Bunting and tea parties will be seen across the country on 8 May as the UK celebrates the 80th anniversary of VE Day. The King and Queen will be celebrating this year with a tea party at Buckingham Palace, where veterans will be invited to dine with the Royal Family. Celebrations will also include a military procession and flypast over London as people pay tribute to the end of the Second World War in Europe, which ended on 8 May 1945. The conflict came to a complete end on 15 August 1945, with the surrender of Japan. But the VE Day parties will not be kept to just the capital and the Royals; the government has urged people to host their own events up and down the country to celebrate. The prime minister announced earlier this month that pubs and bars could stay open till 1am on 8 May as part of the celebrations, but given it's a Thursday, many may be wary of making use of the extra hours. The government has encouraged numerous different types of events to celebrate the day, and here Yahoo News has compiled a list of all of them and how to find one near you. The VE Day 80 website has 11 different categories of events listed. These range from bagpipers to flag raising. They are: Beacons Four different kinds of beacons are being lit at 9.30pm on 8 May. They range from bonfires to stawmen, braziers and specially designed gas-fuelled beacons. Ringing of the bells Churches and town halls will be marking the day across the UK with a special chime of their bell towers to celebrate the day. Raising of the VE Day flag Flags will be raised across the UK, with the organisers offering special VE Day flags to be hoisted on mast poles, although many will just choose to raise the Union Jack as well. Lamp light of peace Differing from the beacons, special lamps will be delivered to locations across the UK. The lamps will represent the "light of peace" that emerged from the darkness of war. The Lamp will be a red gas lamp that looks similar to those used in the 40s. VE Day organisers have encouraged organisers to offer raffles to give people the chance of winning the opportunity to light the lamp. The lamps will also be dedicated to all of the animals that served in the war. All sides of the conflict relied heavily on horses, mules and donkeys. They also used dogs and messenger pigeons extensively. Singing 'I Vow To Thee My Country' At the centre of many events will be the opportunity for people to sing the hymn I Vow To Thee My Country. Veteran and Britain's Got Talent winner Colin Thakery will lead a national sing-along from 9.30pm on the day. The 95-year-old was the oldest ever winner of the Britain's Got Talent when he won it 2019 at the age of 89. Speaking about the opportunity, he said: "Let us lift our voices together and make this a truly unforgettable occasion." Street parties Local authorities throughout the country have offered support for communities and organisations wishing to hold a VE Day street party, with some councils like Portsmouth waiving fees to close roads for the celebrations. Bagpipers You might need to be in Scotland to enjoy this one, but bagpipe displays are set to be a core feature of the celebrations. VE Day 80 Proclamations Town heralds and criers across the country will be dressed in their finest uniforms to proclaim the end of the war. Choirs With many of the events being hosted by churches, choirs are set to be a central part. Choir groups across the country will sing hymns from the 1940s to mark victory and peace. Theatre Shows Production companies across the UK will be putting on special events to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Celebration cakes As part of all the celebrations and parties, people will be encouraged to bake their own cakes to bring along. Special Union Jack-inspired recipes written by former Bake Off judge Mary Berry have already begun appearing online. The VE Day 80 website has an event finder on its website, which you can see here. Many places are hosting numerous different types of events, with street parties often involving the lighting of lamps or bell ringing being accompanied by choir singers. Almost 2,000 events have already been registered to be taking part across all four countries of the UK. Special landmarks like Stone Henge will play host to beacon lightings to mark the event, while major Second World War heritage sites like the Yorkshire Air Museum will be hosting bigger events. Other smaller events are also taking place all over the country. For example, in Stapleford, Nottinghamshire, the local library and learning centre will host a tea party funded by a community grant from the town council. The library will offer free food, display bunting decorations and historical materials, including newspaper clippings and pictures from past VE Day celebrations, and play 1940s music.
The Independent
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Pageant master hopes to start nationwide singalong to mark 80 years since VE Day
A pageant master for Queen Elizabeth II is aiming to create a nationwide singalong to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day and help 'bring the nation together'. Bruno Peek, 74, from Gorleston-on-Sea in Norfolk, masterminded worldwide beacon tributes for the late Queen's golden, diamond and platinum jubilees, and has now set his sights on commemorating the 80th anniversary since the end of the Second World War in Europe. He has proposed the nation comes together at 9.30pm on May 8 to sing the hymn I Vow To Thee My Country as a way of encouraging Britons to celebrate VE Day. We want the whole country... to stop what they're doing, stand up and sing this wonderful British hymn together Bruno Peek Mr Peek, who staged the Millennium Beacon project, was made an OBE in 2000 and became a Commander of the Royal Victoria Order (RVO) in 2022, but he said seeing the nation sing together would be his 'biggest achievement'. 'We want the whole country, whether they're involved in VE Day or not… to stop what they're doing, stand up and sing this wonderful British hymn together, bringing the whole nation together in one special moment in time,' he told the PA news agency. 'I just felt there must be something that can bring people together that doesn't have any political, religious or any other overtones, that people can sing with a simple heart without feeling they are being pressured to sing it for somebody else. 'They're singing it for them (the fallen soldiers) but what they're doing by singing for them, they're singing it together. 'This is what we want in this world at the moment.' Mr Peek said he has spent months organising events to mark VE Day and he hopes to 'pay tribute to Scotland' this year. He has organised 20 bagpipe players across Scotland to play a rendition of Celebratum, composed by famous piper Stuart Liddell, every morning for 80 days to count down the days to VE Day, starting at midday on February 12 until midday on May 8. 'When people think of World War Two, like World War One, so many just think it's England, but they forget the sacrifice the Scots, Welsh and Irish made too,' he explained. 'For VE Day, I thought I'd kick off the 80-day countdown based in Scotland, so it gives Scotland the opportunity to pay tribute to the thousands of Scotsmen that sacrificed so much for the freedom we all enjoy today.' Pipe Major Lady Jane Macrae, who has been friends with Mr Peek for more than 20 years, will lead the first day of the 80-day countdown. The pipers will play at various locations including Edinburgh, Balmoral, Blair, Ardrveck and the Castle of Mey. Mr Peek said more than 600 town criers across the UK will take part in events and church bells will ring to mark VE Day. His aim is to involve local people and highlight the 'grassroots communities celebrating what their relatives did for them'. A beacon lighting ceremony will take place on VE Day to remember those who died in the war and to commemorate the last survivors. 'I've always said the light from the beacons always represents the light of peace that emerged from the dreadful darkness of war,' Mr Peek said. 'It will be one of the last (events) where survivors are around to say thank you to the people who did so much for us. 'Let's come together, celebrate and commemorate the millions who sacrificed their lives at home and abroad, so that we enjoy the freedom we do today.'
