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| Clergy school impression of Bp June with Peggy 'the pilot', Barry's enforcer Dean Capon welcomed by Abp Barry Morgan Source: Welsh Icons News |
Press Reader report of Western Mail article by Martin Shipton, Political editor at large:
"THE Dean of Llandaff has made a formal complaint of bullying against his Bishop, accusing her of wanting to force him out of his post.
It is understood that while it has reservations about the Dean’s allegations, a Church in Wales preliminary inquiry has decided that the Bishop, Rt Rev June Osborne, has a case to answer.
The Very Rev Gerwyn Capon, who was appointed Dean in 2014 by the current Bishop’s predecessor, Dr Barry Morgan, submitted a 31-page complaint about Bishop Osborne to the Church last year.
In it, the Dean alleges that after Bishop Osborne took up her post in 2017, she quickly made it clear that she had no confidence in him, stating that she believed allegations relating to the running of an organ appeal.
These allegations had been investigated by the then Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, in conjunction with the Charity Commission shortly before Dr Capon had been appointed Dean. The conclusion of the inquiry was that the allegations were unfounded. Dr Capon subsequently reviewed the allegations and came to the same conclusion.
Earlier this month we reported how the Chapter [ruling body] of Llandaff Cathedral had just published on its website claims that the Dean had misspent more than £30,000. The allegations were included in Llandaff Cathedral’s annual report and financial statements for the year 2020. In fact an earlier inquiry which reported in October 2020 had concluded that the Dean was innocent of such allegations.
In a statement, the Dean alleged: “I had been in post for a number of years before the new Bishop arrived in 2017 since when she subjected me to an atmosphere which has felt increasingly unsafe and threatening.”
He went on to claim that by April 2020 he was exhibiting signs of stress and had subsequently been diagnosed with clinical depression.
The Dean alleged: “Immediately upon being diagnosed with work-related stress in May 2020, the Bishop took the opportunity to visit me whilst on sick leave to threaten me further into resignation.
'It was then that I decided to invoke the complaints procedure set out in the Constitution of the Church in Wales, through which appeal may be made to the Archbishop.
'Once I submitted my complaint against Bishop June Osborne for bullying me, the then Archbishop of Wales referred the matter to the Provincial Disciplinary Tribunal.
'No sooner had the Archbishop acknowledged receipt of my complaint than I received notice that I myself was being referred by the Bishop of Llandaff to the Disciplinary Panel following a complaint she had received from the Cathedral Chapter.
'This concerned questions they raised which related to expenditure at the Cathedral.'
The Dean stated that while still on sick leave, he was required to appear before the Committee of the Disciplinary Tribunal to respond to the allegations.
He said: 'The Tribunal Committee found I had no case to answer and exonerated me.
'I have tithed my stipend back to the Cathedral since my arrival in post – between 2016 and 2019, I have, with gift aid, given the Cathedral over £19,000.
'Painting me therefore as a thief is personally wounding and untrue.
'Yet despite the decision of the tribunal committee, I soon afterward received documentary evidence that a member of the Chapter, disappointed by the result, wrote to the Bishop to say that there is ‘more than one way to skin a cat'.'
The expression appears in an email sent by the then Archdeacon of Llandaff, the Venerable Peggy Jackson. She retired in July this year.
Prior to publication we put the contents of that email to the Church in Wales and the Bishop, but we have not received a response.
The Dean said that in October 2020 he was invited to submit details of his complaint against the Bishop of Llandaff.
The preliminary adjudication confirmed in May 2021 that, on the balance of probability, Bishop June Osborne has a case to answer.
It went on to recommend mediation between the Bishop and the Dean, but he claimed that had not proven fruitful, alleging: 'Rather, it seems clear to me that my refusal to drop my complaint has now led to the Cathedral Chapter rehearsing allegations that have already been dealt with and where I have been found to have no case to answer.'
The Dean said he was calling on the Church authorities to abide by their anti-bullying and harassment stance and address what he described as “unacceptable leadership behaviours”.
It is understood the Dean’s formal complaint against the Bishop was assessed by James Davenport, the diocesan registrar for Swansea and Brecon, who determined the Dean’s complaint should be examined at a full hearing.
Neither the Church in Wales nor the Bishop of Llandaff wished to comment."
What a sorry state the Church in Wales finds itself in with their secular leaning bishops.
The bishop of St Davids is carrying on in disgrace hoping all will be forgotten. The bishop of Monmouth along with the bishops of St Davids and Llandaff actively promote their LGBT agendas. The bishop St Asaph leads his flock astray with his own 'contextualized' interpretation of the Bible while the divorced and re-married bishop of Bangor sits back awaiting his Buggins' turn elevation to archbishop because there is no obvious spiritual merit among the bench of bishops on which to judge the suitability of any one of them.
Postscript [26.11.2021]
Bishop Osborne has ‘case to answer’ over Dean of Llandaff, panel finds
"A DISCIPLINARY committee of the Church in Wales has found a case to answer over allegations of bullying and harassment brought against the Bishop of Llandaff, the Rt Revd June Osborne, by the Dean, the Very Revd Gerwyn Capon."
Good on the Dean I say. There has been a culture of bullying and an abuse of power in Llandaff since the bishop was enthroned. Unfortunately, others have also fallen foul of the bishop’s bullying. Some have been forced out whilst others have had to endure behaviour which is not fitting for a cleric.
ReplyDeleteLLANGWM
What a newbie.
DeleteThe bullying culture has been prevalent in Llandaff for decades.
John Poole Hughes was a nasty piece of work to anyone he perceived had crossed him.
Roy was little better.
But in first place by a country mile was byzantine Barry.
His golf caddie was a nasty little cowardly bully towards old ladies years before Juno arrived.
She's just the latest little old lady to be on the receiving end of his spite but the difference is that she is not afraid to bite back.
They all deserve each other.
Not my experience of how John Poole-Hughes (the only bishop to give all his clergy a gift on his retirement) regularly acted. He was truly pastoral and informal, even saintly. And much loved and deeply respected by Betty, his secretary, which says a lot.
DeleteRob
I have no problem with that, Rob, you must speak as you find, or found.
DeleteBut I assume you won't have any objections to me doing likewise.
Believe you me, Poole Hughes could be quite the bitch.
Betty Horley was a saint certainly, but Poole Hughes could be very spiteful indeed Rob.
DeleteI remember Colonel Roy and his Roses 🌹 in the garden at Clock Hose with great affection. He led the Flower Arrangers for years. A real character and a lovely couple.
DeleteLlandaff used to be full of such lovely, well mannered, genteel people.
DeleteI have so many happy memories of such people and the events of that era.
The Llandaff Festival enjoyed an international reputation that was well deserved. There was a Gilbert & Sullivan society wthat regularly played in the hall of what was then known as Llandaff Technical College and I still remember their Mikado. The Llandaff Institute had a membership of almost 1,000 and a waiting list so it was only possible to join after someone else's sad death. There were the Lenten "Bread and cheese" lunches every Friday in the Memorial Hall (sold off recently to the Cathedral school amidst more scandalous circumstances) and regular Parish Shows cum social nights.
Everything now is a pale shadow of the former glory days.
And no, this is not merely nostalgia, but the facts, my own "lived experiences" as the modern woke generation would say.
Where and how did it all go so badly wrong?
Corporations in reputational trouble often rebrand. Perhaps Llandaff Cathedral should rebrand as Southfork Cathedral? There are enough plot twists.
ReplyDeleteThe Organ Fund saga needs to be investigated, again, by independent auditors without the overbearing input of +Barry. He cannot continue to play judge (or fudge) & jury on this issue. Until there is a full, clear and fair assessment published, that particular saga is going to be a running sore.
It is not viable for a bishop & dean to be in open conflict. That is a well-known recipe for dysyfunction & disaster. When it happened in Exeter & Peterborough, both deans resigned.
+June & Capon both appear to have cases to answer. +June should never have (allegedly) resorted to threats & intimidation, but Capon cannot preside over a chapter which has no confidence in him. If he is suffering from clinical depression, it will not disappear overnight, even if +June is out of the picture.
The cathedral is wrapped in a Gordian Knot, and has been for years. It is time to slice through the knot, and start afresh. That means both a new bishop and a new dean, in that order, with the latter appointed by the former. Unfortunately, the chances of that happening are however less than slim.
Alan, your suggestion is by far the most sensible on this page.
DeleteNot only are both incumbents tainted by this affair but it clearly relates back to previous misdeeds at Llandaff. Nothing has worked there since +Barry appointed his old friend John Lewis as Dean in 2000.
Prior to the revelations about Gerwhine's alleged spending habits, the most bitter controversies with him involved the organ appeal. His fallacious letter to the Charity Commission should be reviewed in the light of the Chapter's effective declaration of no confidence by publishing the latest acounts.
It seems to me that Capon has a serious case to answer despite his allegations about bullying. So too does +June because she defended the Dean to the hilt when questions about the organ appeal were raised at the start of her time as Bishop. It is most curious that her previously unshakeable support for the Dean has collapsed in such a public manner.
As previous bloggers have mentioned, the Dean had an opportunity to loudly declare his innocence a year ago after the initial tribunal. The fact he chose instead to remain on sick leave suggests an aversion to hard work that is entirely in character for him.
Also - in reference to the news article published above - why if this tribunal cleared him of the monetary allegations did the Chapter publish their very clear statement about his activities in the accounts? The fact that this was vetted by a QC strongly suggests the matter is still very much under scrutiny.
Having read his statement to the Western Mail, and knowing the Dean's writing style, I believe it was "crafted" by someone with more experience of the media than he possesses. In which case I wonder who is lending him such support and why they are making efforts to prevent him being ousted?
1. Byzantine --Barry.
Delete2. Keeping the various skeletons in the cupboards.
The fundamental underlying problem with Llandaff Cathedral is that it is virtually schizophrenic.
DeleteIs it a Cathedral or a large Parish church?
Is it run by a Chapter or a PCC?
Is the senior cleric a Dean or a Parish priest?
The Morley Lewis / Richard Moorhouse debacle is an obvious recent example of the problem.
Do Hereford, Gloucester, Worcester, Bristol, St. Woolos' or St. Davids Cathedrals have a Parish choir and a Cathedral choir? Or separate Parish and Cathedral services? A Cathedral Organist and a Parish organist? Cathedral "Stewards" and Parish "Sidesmen"?
Not to mention all the additional costs and overheads associated with the situation.
The solution is obvious but the various factions are all too deeply entrenched.
I agree with the suggestion to shut the place for five years and have a total clearout of all the dross followed by a fresh start.
@Exodus Your question is very pertinent.
DeleteIn Sheffield last year the Dean sacked the choir overnight, and ended up resigning himself because of the uproar at another 'parish church cathedral'.
In Exeter, the former Dean was forced out basically because of management dysfunction; in Peterborough the Dean was clearly out of his depth with the financial problems; and Lincoln is in a league of its own for the number of cathedral resignations over a number of years for various reasons, ranging from money to management. One of the many oddities in Monmouth is that it was the bishop who was was forced out when he fell out with the catehdral dean. Why the tail wagged the dog in Monmouth remains a mystery.
Llandaff would benefit from management by a transitional / interim dean from outside of the goldfish bowl and with significant pastoral & management experience from (at least) a major UK parish church. The interim dean should stay for the period required to change over both diocesan leadership roles.
If it is true that +June both visited the Dean during his sick leave and tried to intimidate him, that is a major management dysfunction, considering the medical reason cited by the Dean. Any apparent attempt at pastoral care & concern for the Dean should have been through a mutually trusted person. However the Dean's current medical scenario is not a free pass for any previous misdemeanour (if proved) for the Dean either, unless he is claiming he acted under duress ..
The Llandaff stalemate is complicated by the facts that Gerwhine is a lying whinging little bully who has obviously been caught with his hands in the plate, and that Caiaphas is also a bully, witnessed by her own Chaplin as well as David Jones.
DeleteShe acted so atrociously towards David Lambert on the basis of the lies told to her by Gerwhine that she swallowed Hook, line and sinker.
Gerwhine's claims, that she was bullying him from the moment she arrived, exist only in his imagination.
There will be plenty of people around The Green able to confirm that the dud in the Deanery wallowed in her full support for a couple of years, at considerable cost to others who were on the receiving end of the Capon's own bullying behaviour.
Textbook Kettle calling Pot black.
They are obviously engaged in a bout of "If you try and take me down then I will make sure to take you down with me."
One needs no persuasion whatsoever that they must both go, and the sooner the better.
@ Episkopos Look up the description of Liar's Dice on wikipedia. At a guess, Llandaff is a 'common hand' game.
DeleteI perceive it's more like a game of poker with each party raising the stakes in turn in their bidding war to bluff their opponent(s).
DeleteJuno:
"You have to go Gerwyn. You're just not Dean material, you're lazy and simply not in work often enough."
Gerwhine:
"I'm Dean, you don't run the Cathedral, I do. John Lewis ran the place how he liked and Barry was powerless to do anything about it. I shall do likewise, especially because you didn't appoint me."
Juno:
"That's not the point little man, you also lied to me about all those nice old ladies who you called subversives and now I discover the two Davids were telling me the truth too. So I'm sorry and all that but you absolutely have to go. Now do be sensible and just go quietly without a fuss. I'll arrange a tidy little payout for you from my discretionary funds to help set you up and smooth your path. "
Gerwhine:
"No thanks June. I'm happy here on The Green doing as little as possible and warming my feet in the kitchen."
Juno:
"Wrong answer Gerwyn, so I'm going to raise you a series of allegations from MY lay chapter, including scandal and offense".
Gerwhine:
Scoffs. "What scandal and offence?"
Juno:
"Running an antiques dealing business from the Deanery without my permission and having it all over THAT blog."
Gerwhine:
Laughs. "B*gg*r off June, you'll have to do better than that. My best mate Barry knows all about my antiques hobby and it's none of your business what I do in my spare time or if I have a nice little earner going on the side."
June:
"Really? We'll see about that. I raise you a Church in Wales Disciplinary Tribunal".
Gerwhine:
"I'll raise you 6 months sick leave and a letter from Barry confirming I've had his permission to dabble in the antiques trade all along. He's one of my best customers."
Juno:
"I'll raise you Gerard Elias QC and Peggy the Pilate."
Gerwhine:
"So how did the Tribunal go for you June? I told you Barry's my best friend and we both know he still pulls the strings around here!"
Peggy the Pilate:
(The drinks tray waitress).
Winks and nudges gently.
"Don't worry June, there's more than one way to skin a cat!"
Juno:
"I'll raise you a Martin Shipton story in the Western Mail that on your watch the Cathedral is running at a big loss again."
Gerwhine:
Yawns loudly and stretches his arms in the air.
Juno:
"We'll see about that lovely boy. I raise you an AGA, a stove, some other incidentals and the Charity Commission."
Shouts. "GERARD! Publish the accounts on the website."
Gerwhine:
To self. "Oh bugger, she's gone public. Call Barry, he'll tell me what to do next."
Bazza:
"Calm down you stupid boy, it looks just as bad for her and her new Chapter. Never, never, never wash your dirty linen in public, but she started it, so..."
Juno:
"Are you ready to resign now?"
Gerwhine:
"Nope, dope. I'll raise you the Disciplinary Tribunal outcome in the WM"
Juno:
"B*st*Rd! I'll raise you a second Church in Wales Disciplinary Tribunal."
Gerwhine:
"I'll raise you a series of allegations of bullying, intimidation and harassment in the WM."
Bazza:
(The dealer).
"Do you want to buy another card June?"
...... To be continued.
I buy the Poker scenario Gabriel.
DeleteByzantine --Barry as the dealer and the bank (we all know the house never loses) is insightful.
He's probably dealing from a loaded deck of cards too.
The MAD gameplay (Mutually Assured Destruction) sounds about right too.
Long may it continue. 😈😈
The Capon may have been emboldened by the dismissal of the CDM case against him, but his attempts to get June Osborne with a bullying allegation simply won't go anywhere. A recent precedent provides for that - and how familiar it all sounds:
Deletehttps://www.dioceseofnorwich.org/app/uploads/2021/11/Wymondham-Directions-Final-All-Saints-Day-2021.pdf
I think it is well established that a bishop should be able to rebuke a priest for inappropriate behaviour and to direct him/her to take specific action to heal division and mistrust within the body of Christ. The fact that the bishop will cite examples of the dean's inapporpriate behaviour towards those in his pastoral care, as well his overall lack of general candidness (to put it politely) will not help to make him a credible complainant. June Osborne has the upper hand because, as the former Dean of a major English cathedral, she knows a thing or two about how these places should be run and will still be asking herself how the hell someone of The Capon's calibre (or lack of it) ever ended up in that situation in the first place.
Let's see where it goes but my money is on June getting a slap across the wrists for being insensitive to The Capon's medical condition while it is determined she has no case to answer. That will please some and frustrate others. But if you ask me, they are both as bad as one one another.
I like the Poker game scenario too, but what's the nuclear option and who's going to launch the Weapon of Mass Destruction first?
DeleteIn my estimation the WMD is opening up the Organ Appeal accounts and the one most likely to play that card is Caiaphas for the simple reason she's the farthest removed from the original situation.
DeleteLet the chips fall where they may.
The situation in Wymondham that View from the Pew has referenced is indeed loaded with deja vu and it makes instructive reading for Llandaff observers, not least because lack of pastoral care and hostility towards musicians is a significant element to the background. But so too is the blatant inappropriateness of the appointment of the priest at the centre of this debacle and the reckless arrogance at the heart of the recorded events, as well as lack of financial transparency and inappropriate spending.
DeleteThere is an interesting commentary at
http://survivingchurch.org/2021/11/15/wymondham-abbey-and-the-bishops-visitation/
I think it has been deemed that June Osborne has a case to answer because it will be an effective way of flushing out the Dud in the Deanery, as everything will be on the table and he will have no hiding place. I think it's fairly obvious to anyone with a brain that he has no intention of returning to his duties as dean, but is hoping for a great fat payout to finance his continuing indolence. This is the C in W's way of ensuring that this never happens. On this one he has been badly advised by his former master with the golf clubs!
So, yes, I agree. I don't think the dean has a cat in hell's chance of getting the outcome he hopes for.
@Alan
DeleteThe bluffing game of "Spoof" was in the back of my mind but one has to concede that Gabriel's poker game is probably nearer the mark.
@View from the pew
A Bishop admonishing a Dean for underperforming or inappropriate behaviour is one thing and certainly is well established.
However, as one understands them, the examples of Exeter and Peterborough both involved Deans who accepted they were out of their depth and were willing to shuffle off into retirement by doing the decent thing and resigning.
The Capon clearly neither accepts that he's a dud and a complete disaster for the Cathedral, nor is he willing to resign quietly and go without a fight.
Manifestly, Caiaphas can't just sack the dud as she's not his employer and her verbal attempts to shame him into resigning have backfired. So she's reduced to banning him from the Cathedral, revealing her as effectively impotent to achieve a final solution.
Morgan's role in the background as the invisible puppet master is largely speculation, but in the Llandaff swamp, entirely possible, and should not be dismissed out of hand.
In the absence of any evidence to the contrary, the running sore of the Organ appeal accounts is the Weapon of Mass Destruction, not least of all because one perceives it's probably the biggest skeleton rattling around in the closet of Morgan the Organ.
More hypocrisy: Drakeford, the dreary Welsh, pedantic socialist king, filmed dancing at an Indian festival at Cardidff University (and close enough to breathe over several people) when he insists that Christians (he is an atheist) still must wear masks during the Euchafist and at funerals. Detestable!
ReplyDeleteRob
Drakeford's prancing is the least of our worries.
DeleteAfter almost 25 years of socialists governing in the Arssembly, this is what we have.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-59332890
Another disaster that puts the chaos of Llandaff Cathedral into the shade.
Neve, never, never trust a Politician.
DodoJo seems remarkably quiet at the moment. Doesn't she have some snide remark to offer us on the state of the NHS in Wales after the reigns of Alun Michael, Rhodri Morgan, Carwyn James and Mark Drakeford?
DeleteI wonder why and what it is they all have in common?
Sorry for the typos; blame my tablet.
ReplyDeleteRob
There has been a culture of historic bullying from Archdeacons (Martin Williams) and Bishops (+Roy Davies and +Barry Morgan) in the Diocese of Llandaff, but the grass-root ordinary Curate or Vicar has had neither affective nor cognitive strength nor financial means of bringing a charge against the hierarchy in any court or tribunal of the Church in Wales. So, good for the Dean, despite an absence of concrete evidence for the unaccounted £35k. The current scenario is an interesting one - an ecclesiastical boxing match staring the Great (Mrs) "O" of Llandaff in the purple corner etc! I fear that the Bullying Policies of the Church in Wales are but in name, and therefore, not fit for purpose, given the shelving and shredding of a complaint to +John Davies involving +John Davies between 2013 and 2015. There is an absence of credence among the current bench of the Church in Wales, given their functions / roles as Chief Executive Officers of Church in Wales PLC.
ReplyDeleteRoy Davies a bully? Not in my experience. It's easy to malign the dead. And Martin Williams? News to me. I recall his reputation for holiness and scholarship: I recall his flummoxing a diocesan conference by referring to the canons of Nicea.
ReplyDeleteRob
What an appalling appointment June has been. She is a power-crazed maverick of the first order. Sadly the only one she will be accountable to is Father Time on her 70th birthday which can't come soon enough. Until then it is damage limitation and not inconsiderable.
ReplyDeleteWhamab
I also hope they take into consideration the people who have, for whatever reason, felt unable to voice their own allegation. A full consultation into the extent of the bishops alleged bullying should take place. I wonder how many “non disclosure agreements” have been made when clergy have been forced out or made redundant by the bishop. I also wonder how many junior clerics feel unable to speak out about the way they have been treated by the bishop (or those she has appointed).
ReplyDeleteLLANGWM
Why don't you start with Janet Henderson and the little Catholic curate, Ceirion Gilbert?
DeleteBoth those unexplained disappearances happened on --Barry Morgan's watch, plus Ceirion Gilbert was Gerwhine's curate!
Don't forget the Dean of Llandaff Cathedral is also the Parish priest of the Parish of Llandaff.
The buck stops with him for all sorts of reasons.
Good point Ruth.
DeleteIn his seven (dasastrous) years in the Llandaff Deanery, the antiques dealing dud has had a total of one curate.
With a failure rate of 100%.
Outstanding.
I, for one, would only be too delighted to hear from Janet Henderson and Ceirion Gilbert, to hear their versions of the events surrounding their unexpected disappearances.
Bugger Barry Morgan's gagging clauses.
That photo above looks to me like Juno is wielding a pre-heated red hot poker worthy of the Spanish Inquisition.
DeleteI'm guessing it's the Capon who's due for the singed orifice treatment.
"Bullying? BULLYING? I'll give him BULLYING!"
The ears in the walls report that she heated the tip of her poker in the belly of his AGA.
Delete@LLANGWM
DeleteHow are you getting on with your investigation into the disappearances of Janet Henderson and Ceirion Gilbert?
Any progress to report?
Still no progress LLANGWM?
DeleteHow disappointing you are.
Quite agree Llangwm. I suspect from what I know that the bullying is extensive and egregious. However, we know how +Bangor deals with episcopal misconduct don't we? I won't hold my breath.
ReplyDeleteWhamab
I saw JP-H throwing a hissy fit complaining about a five course meal we had served him and he had enjoyed! Suddenly, he turned his conversion to the starving of the world.
ReplyDeleteRoy Davies turned apoplectic when I dared question the suitability of a person he suggested for our next incumbent. The person was appointed and it was a disaster.
Valleys Vicar (Retired).
Let us make a distinction, as is only fair, between isolated incidents and disagreements between particular bishops and incumbents and an overweening manner and the consistent abuse, discouragement and disparagement of the clergy by autocratic, power-obsessed bishops, of which, sadly, the female Welsh bishops are notorious examples.
DeleteNo bishop's actions have been perfect; but they have to deal with clerics who are far from perfect also.
Rob
If the Priest is supposed to be a Shepherd for his flock, then so is the Bishop for his too.
DeleteThe higher the office, the greater the responsibility and, supposedly, the ability and expertise to handle it.
Eryl Thomas?
DeleteJohn Poole Hughes?
Roy Davies?
Barry Morgan?
June Osborne?
Expertise?
🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣
You have a point Gabriel.
DeleteThe foundation of the path to the current calamitous situation was laid 60 years ago in Llandaff.
It is from there that the swamp has spread, courtesy of Satan's Imp Barry Morgan.
I'm tempted to say it began with cottaging in gents toilets on Llandaff fields.
DeleteBut I suspect the rot had set in long before that.
Gabriel - expertise?
DeleteDom
Expertise.
DeleteThere was none.
A lot of "isolated incidents" amounts to a course of conduct Rob, and JPH was at the centre of a lot.
Delete@Subversive Canon.
DeleteYou don't know how right you are.
Glyn Simon was a capable enough Dean but as soon as he got the purple he often bullied his junior clergy and Diocesan ordinands in particular.
Glyn Simon's regular stunt was to threaten to disrupt ordinands lives by delaying ordinations for six months or even longer.
Nasty bit of work and all kept hidden from view by a canonical vow of loyalty and silence that is still open to abuse today.
Fascinating LP, I'd heard such rumours and stories although I could never get hold of precise details.
DeleteHow were the ordinands supposed to live or supposed to do during the enforced dalays?
The vow of obedience is more like a vow of silence.
Omerta for the clergy.
Omerta indeed SC.
DeleteI know of more than one such incident, which involved ordinands getting married without Glyn Simon's agreement or prior permission.
He used to demand to have a meeting with the Ordinand's fiancé so he could "interview" her in order for him to check if she was the "right sort".
If the Ordinand, or his spouse refused his invitation, or if they went ahead and got married without his approval, then he would threaten to delay the ordination and often did so.
Since he himself was married it was never clear what his problem was with his Ordinands receiving the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony before that of Ordination.
If you ask me, he was more interested in his writing career than his Diocese.
And the little dud in the Llandaff Deanery thinks he has been bullied?
The big girl's blouse has no idea.
Sweet Jesus, just who the hell did he think he was?
DeleteAnd who would possibly tolerate putting up with such bullshi?
Was he operating a Llandaff Diocesan "casting ciuch" or what?
"casting couch".
DeleteBlame my eyesight.
Some tolerated Glyn Simon's bullying, some did not.
DeleteThose who did not found their cards marked and denied preferment and promotion later in their careers, unless they got out of the Llandaff Diocese or the Church in Wales altogether.
Would you happen to know what Glyn Simon considered to be "the right sort" Llandaff Pewster?
DeleteWhat right did he have to demand interviews with anyone not employed by the Church in Wales?
What you describe is outrageous.
I believe that he didn't like fiancés with professional qualifications and/or career plans of their own.
DeleteThe "right sort" needed to know their place, both in the Parish and Church hierarchy.
Preferably timid housemouse types, who would act as full-time unpaid telephone answering service, PA, Sunday school teacher, help run the Mother's Union and organise the annual church fête etc.
He had no "right" at all to "demand" such interviews but he certainly didn't like being told "no".
One ordinand summoned to attend at Glyn Simon's pleasure was told that he expected the fiancé in question to respond to his summons and travel at her expense from the other end of the country in the middle of her university final examnations.
When the ordinand told him that wouldn't be happening, Glyn Simon's response was that the couple would definitely not be getting his blessing on their proposed union.
Upon the ordinand's retort that the only blessing they needed and sought would be God's blessing, Glyn Simon ordered the ordinand "Get out of my office!"
Outrageous it was indeed Ruth, but nevertheless it still occurred.
Bullying, thuggery, buggery and skullduggery are long-standing tools of the trade in the Church.
Other than the provision of a telephone answering service being required, one could be forgiven for thinking this took place in the dark ages, not the 1950s and 1960s.
DeleteThe "Squirearchy" and associated sense of entitlement was obviously still flourishing in those days.
Breaking his canonical vow of Omerta was Gerwhine's final mistake.
DeleteA clear sign of his desperation.
No Bishop in history would forgive that cardinal sin, especially byzantine --Barry.
It's only a matter of time now.
@LP
DeleteGood for that Ordinand and his fiancé.
Bishop 0 - 1 Ordinand
Did Glyn Simon leave it there or was there a further attempt at such bullying?
Of course there was a further attempt SC.
DeleteBishops don't take lightly to being outsmarted by mere Ordinands.
However, Glyn Simon wasn't as clever as the Ordinand!
GS recalled the Ordinand for another interview without coffee and biscuits.
Having had his nose put out, GS made more threats.
Determined to impose his authority, GS tells the Ordinand that his ordination will be delayed by at least 6 months.
Ordinand tells GS that's unacceptable and he will leave the Church in Wales.
GS asks Ordinand how much the Church in Wales has spent on his training.
Ordinand asks GS how much the Church in Wales has spent on his training?
GS doesn't know the answer to the question.
Ordinanand tells GS that the answer is zero since he has funded his own training.
Ordinand also tells GS that if he isn't Ordained as planned, then he will leave the Church in Wales altogether!
GS baulks at this but challenges the Ordinand over how he might do so.
Ordinanand reminds GS that he is on extended leave from the civil service but can return at any time and tell the Church in Wales to stick it's vocation where the Sun doesn't shine.
Result?
Bishop 0-2 Ordinand
However, despite being one of the most able and best qualified Priests in the Diocese, he didn't even make Canon!
Such has been the toxic and bullying MO in the Diocese of Llandaff for the last sixty years.
Delighted to hear of an Ordinand willing to stand toe to toe with a bullying Bishop. The Church in Wales needs more of the same but
Deleteso many of the current crop are just spineless.
Did the Ordination ever take place or did Glyn Simon delay it as he threatened?
That particular ordination took place as planned SC but the cards of the Ordinand had been 'marked' in perpetua.
DeleteGlyn Simon took his revenge as described and sadly it also didn't prevent him abusing others in the same manner subsequently as he delayed by six months the ordination of Huw Jones (the former Bishop of St. Davids) following his marriage to his lovely wife Gwyneth.
Why would the Ordinands and their fiancés put up with such disgusting behaviour from Glyn Simon?
DeleteOr anyone else for that matter?
The only answer to come to mind is that they truly felt they had a calling and a vocation in the ministry.
The downside was that their goodwill was open to such abuse.
To whom could they turn for protection and justice if that was how they were treated by a Bishop?
The more I learn of the goings on in the Church in Wales the more I despise it.
Still is the case, and not just for ordinands...
DeleteMOD
Apologies MOD, I wasn't suggesting that anything has changed, certainly not for the better.
DeletePerhaps the only difference is that more of the misconduct is coming to light and to the attention and scrutiny of the general public.
That would be in no small part thanks to the Llandaffchester Chronicles, Ancient Briton's blog and Martin Shipton.
Long may it continue, so call it out and drain the swamp MOD!
PP. It is so sad to hear of such bullying by a bishop. If the person's so affected could at least be provided with adequate counsel, support, guidance that would be appropriate. But, if the Welsh version of such support is as inadequate as the CofE protocol, then no wonder we are loosing valuable clergy, potential ordinands for a what?
ReplyDeleteIf the named bishop has/is a bully, then this needs to be brought into the light. But, this is certainly not the first women cleric in high office to be a bully. How one deals with it can only be a more robust independent system for raising concerns. At least given her age, she will not be the next AB!
Given her age, she shouldn't have ever been the Bishopette of Lle.
Deleteof Llandaff.
DeletePP. Some denominations, have removed the retirement age ceiling, could the CiW do the same, were clergy are able to do so?
ReplyDeleteYou come up with some bizarre suggestions PP but that must be your worst yet.
DeleteWould you really wish that complete and utter b'Stard --Bazza back in Llandaff?
It's bad enough that he's still skulking around Whitchurch in Llys Ego, lingering like the stench of a persistently blocked drain.
And as it stands, at least the long-suffering Llandaff pew sitters can look forward to the end of April 2023 with a small degree of confidence.
Some contributors are dismissing all the bishops of the Church in Wales, or at least, all the bishops of Llandaff who have ever served, which is extremely censorious. Whatever the truth about aspects of their behaviour - and I for one think some of them have been unjustly and unkindly defamed - what is being criticised is human fallibility, human falleness, that we all share, including those who send comments to this blog. It is a pity, AB, if this site is known for condemning everything and every one, which I do not think is your intention.
ReplyDeleteRob
No Rob, that is not AB's intention. In commenting on 'topical news/events' commentators are at liberty to express their own views which will not necessarily reflect the views of the blog owner as stated in the RH column.
DeleteIt seems to me that some contributors are not merely expressing their own views but sharing their experiences at the hands of the aforementioned Bishops. Speak as you find and all that.
DeleteThe cover-ups, the pretence that all is well with Llandaff or that the problems are only recent manifestations have gone on for far too long.
Drain the swamp.
Rather like the lady who spoke out against Bishop Bell.
Human fallibility or error is one thing. But hypocrisy is altogether something else.
Delete@Rob
DeleteGabriel omitted Glyn Simon from his list. He too could be every bit the bully behind closed doors.
LP, Glyn Simon was before my time in Llandaff. Just as well by the sound of it.
DeleteAlan. An excellent solution. Because it's an excellent solution, it's not going to happen, unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteThe other Solution is a Flash mop. Apparently, it cleans up the impossible.
...whilst the choir sings, 'Thou shalt sprinkle me with Domestos'?
DeleteTo the tune "Cilit Bang!"
DeleteSeems they are all having fun in Llandaf again. God Bless 'Grecian 2000' all of you.
ReplyDeleteEnforcer (Scandal and Offence).
While the storm is raging around events and personalities on The Green in Llandaff, visitors to this esteemed blog may want to keep a close eye on developments in a cathedral deanery to the East, now occupied (as it was previously) by someone who didn't make the grade in the Church of England. A familiar occurrance in the seneior echelons of the Church in Wales these days.
ReplyDeleteI simply say this because, last week interviews were held for an incumbency in Peterborough. The first question candidates were asked was 'will you answer your telephone?' closely followed by 'will you allow your telephone number to be in the public domain?'. The impression given was that this once-thriving city centre parish (previously linked to a residentiary canonry at Peterborough Cathedral) was not in good shape. The fact that the diocese is unwilling to fund a stipend and the parish is funding the post from its reserves speaks volumes. As does the fact that the successful applicant is someone with a proven track record of turning difficult churches around. One hopes history is not about to repeat itself.
Thank you for the heads-up on this one JOC. Meanwhile, any news of how attempts to to receruit a new organist in Bangor Cathedral is going? Paucity of credible applicants is what I last heard. Mind you, with Bob the Builder occupying the Precentor's stall (is this job number 22 for him in Bangor Dioceses?) it's hardly going to persuade anyone of real ability that it would be a good place to work...
DeleteAB, I have just hot-footed it from Llys Esgob, Abergwili; having used my MI5 spy camera to photograph the Bishop's diary yet again. Seymour
ReplyDeletePage 1
Dear Diary,
I am almost at the end of week three, and I am still here in Llys Esgob. An event happened this week which makes it more likely that I will stay here because I am well and truly under the radar now. Even that pettifogging Ancient Briton and his cronies have forgotten about me (not that I read that sort of drivel unless I must – which is usually every Monday morning and Thursday evening). Anyway, I digress.
The Dean of Llandaff gave my pal, Juno, a real left hook this week. She didn’t see that one coming! You could say that she is down, but not out. Capon went to Martin Shipton of the Western Mail and spilled his guts to him. According to him, Juno is a bully, and she goes round picking on innocent, defenceless Deans. I was talking to Juno the other evening. I suggested that she had a word with the Dean-eating Bishop of Bangor and got some tips from him on how to get rid of a dean. She told me that she had contacted our mentor, the former Presiding Bishop of ECUSA. Kathy, our best friend, suggested she held a show trial on the Green in Llandaff. The Greater Chapter of the Cathedral are to be the jury, with prizes on offer for the right verdict – I understand that the first one to shout “Guilty” will win a nearly-new Aga. Nevertheless, the little b*gg*r will finally get his day in court. The thing is, dear Diary, that we, bishops, are very big on justice – especially when it comes to doling it out to miscreants. Juno has sent her crozier to have the sharp end made pointier. Now thinking, I wouldn’t hurt for me to get that done to my crozier just in case I need to skewer someone in the near future.
On a lighter note, my brother and sister bishops have had a whip round to buy me some more colouring books. They are so thoughtful. They also sent me a complete rainbow pack of colouring pencils. The Christian Ethics team at St Padarn’s Institute have brought out a colouring book called “Adam and Steve attend the Governing Body”. The picture of Greggers is very lifelike, but Chezzer Monmouth’s image could do with a bit of zhuzhing up. Two new editions are in the pipeline: their current working titles are “Eve and Neave visit the Llandaff Faith Tent” and “What a gay day in the Church in Wales!” It just shows how with it we are since they allowed us women to take a lead. The next great battle will be polyamory for all. I must remember to mention these wonderful resources to the Diocese in my next ad clerum.
This coming week, I must attend the Sacred Synod to agree to the appointment of the next Bishop of Swansea and Brecon. I am minded to lodge an objection and withhold my consent. Andy promised me that he would get me out of this hellhole by getting me translated to Swansea and Brecon, but the Diocese there didn’t want me, I don’t know why. At least, Andy and Greggers came to my defence. They refused to approve the S&B electors’ choices for bishop, and Greggers has now despatched one of his Archdeacons to the Diocese. The one thing I am certain of: he will never be as good a bishop for that diocese as I would have been.
page 2 (Seymour)
ReplyDeleteChezzer Monmouth has not had a good week either. Her “black lesbian amputee” nominee for Archdeacon of the Gwent Valleys, Charity B’Kumza, has withdrawn. Chezzer misheard her on account of her strong Nigerian accent. She thought the lady said that she would do the job for all the tea in China and rang the tea merchants to put in an order. Apparently, every room in Bishopstow is filled with crates of Lapsang Souchong. I suppose it’s an easy mistake to make but the Chairman of the Diocesan Board of Finance is not happy. Chezzer has had to ask the Mothers’ Union in the Diocese to run tea stalls outside supermarkets, gyms, sports centres, schools, and railway stations just to get rid of the stuff. Chezzer has even got Wendy running the stall outside Newport Railway Station. To make matters worse, another shipment is due on Monday. Chezzer told me that she is planning to scale things up. The Diocesan tea sales are going so well, they are bringing in more money than church collections each Sunday. Chez is thinking of competing with Costa Coffee, only her outlets will sell tea.
I must say that this phased return to work is so tedious. Yesterday I was so bored I gave my maid the day off and got out my Keith Floyd cookbook and cooked Adrian “Herby fried chicken with cream sauce” and all the accoutrements. I even made an Amaretto Ice Bombe for dessert. It was rather amusing though. He thought that he had forgotten my birthday or our wedding anniversary. He had that look of blind panic on his face when he got home. Being the little minx that I am, I let him stew for a while. Well, I must have my fun somehow.
I think it’s time to put my feet up. It’s really tiring doing nothing; but I find I need to rest afterwards. So, I think I’ll watch “Escape to the country” unless they are house hunting in Dyfed or Pembrokeshire. If they are, I will write to the BBC and suggest they make a new programme called, “Escape from the country”!
Another outstanding contribution Seymour.
DeleteEncore, encore!
Out of curiosity, I took another look at the Llandaff DBF accounts today on the Charity Commissioners website.
ReplyDeleteIt seems nothing much has changed.
Caiaphas is is also dipping her hands into the collection plate.
The Bishop's Mission and Discretionary funds still exist although Covid has reduced the takings from the Ordination and Confirmation plates.
But bizarrely, the Mission funds so beloved of Byzantine --Barry still run at an annual figure of £19,095.
Clearly,despite the Church of England having done away with such archaic practices, Caiaphas has found it too tempting to put an end to it.
Caiaphas is as much in the swamp as Gerwhine.
Who would have guessed?
DeleteBishops and Deans with their snouts in the trough.
Just like the middle ages!
Caiaphas might be buying a new Aga every year with the unaudited discretionary funds and who would be any the wiser?
DeleteOr perhaps she's building up a nice portfolio of 'buy to let' properties like her predecessor in Llys Ego, Whitchurch?
PP. Just found this new women clergy clothing outfitters. OMG, they are certainly not respectful or professional. I wonder if they do purple?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/1732335903651816/posts/3028808964004497/?sfnsn=scwspmo
Dear Lord, since when did being a Vicar become some sort of fashion show requiring the latest must-have lacy little off-the-shoulder number in a variety of rainbow 🌈 options?
DeleteOn the other hand, if this young "Reverend" had been made Archdeaconesse of Llandaff rather than Peggy the Pilate, the Cathedral would be bursting at the seams with lads wanting to be servers, choristers, vergers and bell ringers.
https://m.facebook.com/Rev.Wahila/
Are you thinking of buying something for advent, PP?
DeleteSeymour
Radio 4 this morning reports Archbishop Justin Welby is apparently sick of seeing vicars being portrayed on TV as either "rogues or idiots".
ReplyDeleteIf that gets his goat, he should come to Llandaff where the reality is worse than fiction as it seems both the dud in the Deanery and the Bishopette have each successfully combined both those attributes.
Welby has oft proven he's an idiot and a hypocrite on national media so I really don't understand what point he thinks he's making.
DeletePP. Welby has his flaws, but at least he called out the mayhem in St David's . Would Rowan have been anymore vocal?
ReplyDeleteThe AB election, will be interesting, will it be a rubber stamped succession, or, will it be a standoff? Leaving the Bench to elect their own? Two are ruled out beforehand - June and Gregory, one because of age, the others previous indication, is he did not want the role. Why can't an external candidate be on the selection! The system is dated, the pool is so small and the selectors chosen to form the college, are possibly too chummy. In this present day, the role is limited, unless you have political agenda, like Bazza, and we still reel from his tenure.
Calling out DodoJo is all very well, but what difference did it make? As usual, Welby was ignored and was entirely ineffective.
DeleteWell the dog doodoo has hit the fan now.
ReplyDeleteIt's only a matter of time before it's all over the other national newspapers.
https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2021/26-november/news/uk/bishop-osborne-has-case-to-answer-over-dean-of-llandaff-panel-finds
Bishop Osborne has ‘case to answer’ over Dean of Llandaff, panel finds
A DISCIPLINARY committee of the Church in Wales has found a case to answer over allegations of bullying and harassment brought against the Bishop of Llandaff, the Rt Revd June Osborne, by the Dean, the Very Revd Gerwyn Capon.
The Dean took up his post in 2014. The Bishop arrived in 2017, and, in the Dean’s view, subjected him over the next three years to “an atmosphere which has felt increasingly unsafe and threatening”. He has been on sick leave since being diagnosed with work-related clinical depression in April 2020, when he found himself “increasingly and inexplicably isolated by my Chapter colleagues”.
He contends: “It is my firm belief that the Bishop weaponised them to create a narrative of personal failure in my leadership of the cathedral.
Advent in Llandaff this year is a wonderful prospect!
Increasingly and inexplicably isolated BY MY CHAPTER COLLEAGUES.
DeleteDoesn't that suggest bullying by the other Chapter members rather than June? Along with a conspiracy if all the other Chapter members were involved?
His firm belief that the "Bishop weaponised them"? What does that even mean? Did Caiaphas turn them into Daleks spouting "Exterminate the Capon"?
Or is he just bitching about having a Lay Chapter imposed on him and against the wishes of His --Darkness?
The predictions of things getting much worse before they get any better were right on the money.
I think it rather suggests his Chapter colleagues seeking to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the Capon.
DeleteAnd who can blame them?
Not dissimilar to their reactions on discovering another of their colleagues had been charged and pleaded guilty to having and making child porn earlier this year.
You have to feel sorry for Canon Mark Preece who is desperately trying to keep the place running while almost being overwhelmed by the swamp.
The Dean makes the remarkable claim that the Chapter were "weaponised [..] to create a narrative of personal failure in my leadership of the cathedral."
DeleteThe Capon doth protest too much. Obviously he thinks he was a shining example of competence as Dean. But if this was so, then why are his failings recorded in (for instance) the accounts of 2019 as a £69k loss for the Cathedral?
Capon has to tell himself that the "narrative" of his failings is entirely the creation of other people! Similarly he glosses over the large amounts of cash he is accused of appropriating for furnishing the Deanery and swanning off on his travels. "But I tithed back £19K to the Cathedral" he bleats, as if his munificence is being questioned.
Ultimately everything in Capon's little world must revolve around him and he cannot admit to any failures. I'm sure any half-decent psychologist would recognise this type of character. The tragedy is that he was elevated to job that was not only beyond his abilities but gave him delusions of grandeur.
(With apologies to the author of the original Prima Donna joke)
DeleteHow many Llandaff Cathedral Deans does it take to change a light bulb 💡?
Just the one but stood still on a swivel chair. holding up the bulb aa the world 🌏 revolves around him.
🤣
With apologies, I omitted the best bit.
ReplyDeleteThe Dean described this as defamation and an attempt to shame him into resignation. “As senior clergy, we are hard-wired not to bring the Church into disrepute,” he said. “That’s always been my intention. But the culture I have come up against is frightening. The cathedral has now become a place of great schism and difficulty. It is my belief that the diocese has become a toxic environment.”
Just how the hell has the dud got the neck to complain of "a toxic environment" when that's exactly what he created himself with his poison pen letters and sermons on "subversives"?
Is he living in LaLa land?
If it wasn't so sad for Llandaff it would be funny.
DeleteHowever, having been forced to stand by helpless to stop byzantine bully boy --Bazza's machinations and skullduggery, this smacks entirely of chickens coming home to roost.
Handbags in the cloisters, all gas and gaiters, it couldn't possibly happen to a nicer bunch of b*st*rds.
You're not kidding LEV
DeleteHas the little dud got such a short and/or selective memory?
https://www.pressreader.com/uk/western-mail/20171209/281788514398270
9 December 2017
Cathedral Dean apologises after 'subversion' row
A preliminary adjudication in May this year confirmed that, on the balance of probability, the Bishop had a case to answer. It recommended that the Bishop and Dean should enter into a mediation process, but the Bishop, the Dean says, “used this process to further undermine and bully me”. Last month, the Dean turned down “an offer to persuade me to drop my complaint against the Bishop”. The Chapter then published on its website the mis-spending claims, and included them in its annual report and financial statement.
DeleteThe Dean described this as defamation and an attempt to shame him into resignation. “As senior clergy, we are hard-wired not to bring the Church into disrepute,” he said. “That’s always been my intention. But the culture I have come up against is frightening. The cathedral has now become a place of great schism and difficulty. It is my belief that the diocese has become a toxic environment.”
How peculiar that the dud had no such difficulty in the Diocese of Llandaff when he was one of Bazza's insiders and confidantes.
A place of great schism and difficulty, the diocese a toxic environment?
Introducing prietesses.
The changes outside the West door.
The rewiring and Lutron lighting project.
Appointing Peggy the Pilate as Archdeaconesse.
The Organ Appeal & the failure to produce accounts.
Bully boy --Bazza as acting Dean during the interregnum.
Introducing of the sh*te rite.
Janet Henderson's appointment & disappearance.
Appointing Peggy the Pilate as acting Dean & the Eleri Jones debacle.
Missing Quinquennial reports.
--Bazza's "discretionary" unaudited funds & spending.
The Cathedral Choir and assistant Organist redundancies.
Appointing Gerwhine Capon Dean.
Communicant numbers not published.
Curate Ceirion Gilbert's dissappearance.
Capon's poison pen letters.
The rigged electoral college, Jeffery John scandal and Caiaphas' arrival.
A trans vicar at St John's.
Caiaphas' ignoring Parishioners concerns over the lies of Toad and Capon.
Juno's junket to Spain.
The recent vote of the GB to allow same sex blessings.
Does the poor little Capon think he's the only one who's fed up with the goings on in Llandaff?
When he was part of --Bazza's gang he had no difficulty dishing it out to others.
To quote his Dark --Lord, "Tough".
Bullseye WASW.
DeleteGerwhine just can't seem to face the issue of the Aga in his kitchen or the wood burning stove and explain how they got there without the knowledge of the other trustees.
All fur coat and no knickers.
How does one shame him into resignation when he clearly has no shame?
DeleteThe ears in the walls report that further progress has been made in getting to the bottom of the other missing £33,799.
DeleteRumours abound of the results being even more damning than the Aga saga.
If so, maybe today's salvo in the Church Times is Gerwhine getting his retaliation in first before Gerard and Caiaphas launch their final assault.
With reference to your Poker analogy Gabriel, it seems to me that the Capon has gone "all in".
DeleteI perceive he has no new cards to play, unless --Bazza slips him a couple of Jokers 🃏 under the table.
DeleteRemember this little gem?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.pressreader.com/uk/western-mail/20171209/281788514398270
Bishop of Llandaff June Osborne said:
"As a previous Dean and now a new bishop I have very much enjoyed getting to know Llandaff Cathedral. I hear no reputable calls for a change of leadership from those who know the Cathedral well and have its best interests at heart. I look forward to working with the Dean to strengthen the vision and performance of our Cathedral."
How can he claim she was bullying him immediately following her arrival in 2017 when she's "on record" in the press supporting him publicly in December 2017?
There's none so deaf as those who aren't listening.
DeleteThat "little gem" should be haunting both of them but for different reasons.
Thank you for the reminder Simon.
Janet Henderson must be so glad she walked away after only 9 weeks.
DeleteAnd Jeffery John must be thanking the Holy Ghost for moving in mysterious ways.
As Shirley said at the time, I don't think all the problems in Llandaff have yet come to light.
Heigh ho!
How much longer before the RB gets off its flabby arse and does something useful?
DeleteThis mess is bringing into disrepute the entire Church in Wales, not just the Cathedral and Diocese of Llandaff.
The RB (read Barry Morgan) must be very grateful to the Capon for the distraction, else keeping the wench of Abergwili on St. David's throne might have been much tougher and Andy Pandy's promotion to Archbishop wouldn't have taken place until sometime next year.
DeleteWhat are the bookies odds for the Archbishop's Steeplecase in Llandrindod Wells?
Delete1. Buggins' Turn, ridden by Randy Pandy Bangor: 10-1
2. Sequoia Special, ridden by Gregorius Maximus Assaph : 16-1
3. Tory Terminator, ridden by DodoJo Davids: 25-1
4. Hell Hath No Fury, ridden by Caiaphas Llandaff : 250-1
5. Offa's Trench, ridden by Cherry Monmouth : 100-1
6. A Snowflake's Chance, ridden by Notyetin Swansea, 666-1
Place your bets.
Caiaphas, 9th December 2017- "I hear no reputable calls for a change of leadership from those who know the Cathedral well and have its best interests at heart".
DeleteIt not the Capon who has been defamed but David Lambert and David Jones.
All thanks to the Capon's lies spun to Caiaphas and her subsequent gullibility.
They all need to be cleared out like the money changers at the Temple in Jerusalem.
@CG
DeletePut me down for a tenner on Sequoia Special not making it through the starting gate.
I'll have a £5 on A Snowflake's Chance.
DeleteHe's the only rider not yet tainted by the stink of swamp gas and if he romps home at those odds I'll be able to afford an AGA of my own.
If Darth --Insidious is still pulling the strings from the technology cupboard at Llys Ego, he'll be fixing the result for the first homosexual female Archbishop, so a £10 note on Offa's Trench would seem to be a sure thing.
DeletePP. After reading the CT article and the latter comments above it is such a damaging blow to the people of the Diocese. This brings the wider Church into such glaring headlight of scrutiny.
ReplyDeleteThe Bishop may or may not be as described by the Dean, but, if you hold the post of Dean of a large Cathedral for over a decade, you must have done something right. Her current silence is a mark of countenance, time will tell. But the Dean, given his memory lapses, conduct will only come back and burn his buns like a canker in his aga!
Such a sad day as we approach the end of the Church year.
What scrutiny?
DeleteThis is just the latest round of mud slinging in the Llandaff 'Game of thrones'
😂
PP. Scrutiny, meaning that now the details are in the press, with the Charity Commissioners, their will be scrutiny, it's not a matter that will just sweep under the deanery/Llys Esgob carpets.
DeleteYeah, right.
DeleteThat would mean the Charity Commissioners actually taking an interest in doing their job.
Like they did over the Organ appeal?
Don't make me laugh!
They barely lifted a finger over the Kids Company scandal and that involved £50 million of tax payers cash.
That's not scrutiny PP, that's just more "business as usual".
DeleteReal scrutiny would be a) Gerwhine publishing his 31-page written complaint against Caiaphas; b) Gerard publishing the report of the independent QC from Manchester; c) Caiaphas publishing her response to Gerwhine's complaints along with the evidence she unearthed that led her to finally accept the concerns about the Organ appeal and conclude that Gerwhine has been lying to her; and d) the Chapter publishing their books of Acts since 2000 onwards, Quibqyennial reports, Communicant numbers since 2015 and so on.
Despite claims to the contrary, openness and transparency at Llandaff Cathedral has not improved to any significant extent and they too are perpetuating the cover-up of the Organ appeal scandal, not to mention the Charity Commissioners being misled by Gerwhine and His --Darkness.
Until that infected boil is lanced and cleaned out, the situation will not improve.
A number of those at Salisbury Cathedral have given support to the Dean, because they were glad to see the back of Offred.
DeleteSaggyoldclothcat.
Anyone supporting Gerwhine from Salisbury would be better off keeping their noses out of the Llandaff swamp, the stink will overwhelm them and suck them into the mire.
DeleteIf Caiaphas can get rid of the dud in the Deanery, that's a win. If Caiaphas gets rid of the dud and then retires/resigns, that's a win win.
If the dud and Caiaphas take each other down and drag the lay Chapter with them, that's a celebration. 🎉 🎂 🍾 🥂🥂
I'm guessing the Llandaff Deanery and Llys Esgob won't be exchanging Christmas cards this year then?
ReplyDeleteJuno's Christmas Day sermon in the Cathedral might be better than a Christmas cracker joke this year.
Delete🤣
PP. If this sees the demise of both senior clergy surely it has to lead to the door of the former AB - a pay off for either parties would be unthinkable - but it's CiW!
ReplyDeleteIn another subject herein, it suggests that JP is to be toppled by her clergy.
If this happen two Sees become vacant, what a start for a new Archbishop.
Regarding the soon to be in electoral college, 3 candidates are ruled themselves out 2 women and 1 man. So that leaves 3 candidates - the outgoing women (if true) are going to seek a legacy candidate so who will be the next AB? In the brewing crisis in Llandaff, the no confidence in St David's, whoever the new AB is, they are going to have to hit the ground running and surely be a master in the art of damage limitation.
No-one has been ruled out.
DeleteThe more outrageous the candidate or their (mis)conduct, the more likely they will be to land the "top" job in the Cult in Wales.
The so-called Electoral College and it's processes have previously been revealed as a sham and not fit for purpose,but even if that were not the case, there's not one on the shortlist worthy of serious consideration.
A week has elapsed since the deadline set by the Llandaff Cathedral website for the submission of questions in response to the publication of the revised accounts, the revelations over the Aga saga and the allegations of unauthorised expenditure by the dud in the Deanery.
ReplyDeleteAny news of how many and what questions have been submitted or any responses to them?
The smart money on The Green suggests nothing will be published until well into the new year.
I have been pondering on the significance of the Capon's claims about his tithing income to the Cathedral from sometime in 2016 to sometime in 2019.
ReplyDeleteAs he was appointed Dean in early 2014, why didn't the self-righteous dud tithe his income from the outset?
As he is still effectively the Dean of Llandaff, why did his tithing end in 2019?
Did it have anything to do with the establishment of the Lay Chapter in June 2019 perhaps?
He certainly looks glum enough in the photos taken on that occasion.
Alternatively, was it earlier or later in the year than that, and if so, what significance might be attached to the answers?
Was his tithing stopped in response to unwelcome digging around in the Cathedral accounts by Gerard Elias and Roger Bacon?
If that wasn't the catalyst, what was?
The comment above from Midnight Mass might help shed a little light LEV. The 2019 accounts recorded a loss of £69k for that year but I recall question marks over the veracity of the accounts and speculation of financial losses in the years before that.
DeleteIt occurs to me that the timing of the start of Capon's claimed tithing could well have been his sorry attempt, on paper at least, to reduce the size of the Cathedral's losses, the dubious logic being "better to give 10% of my salary than face the greater risk of losing 100% of it".
Without his alleged tithing and gift aid from 2016-2019 the losses would have been larger losses and come to Juno's attention much sooner.
I recall one year the Capon crowing that the Cathedral was some £4,000 in the black. What he didn't make clear was his role in that sleight of hand.
As for his alleged donations totalling £19k somehow excusing or justifying his alleged withdrawals of £69k, that is known as a Ponzi scheme.
Ironic, that one of his daughters was named Perpetua.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to read that MORE clergy are abandoning ship following announcements today. Two more Llandaff clergy heading to Monmouth. It would be really interesting to see a list of appointments and departures from the past few months. I suspect departures outweigh the appointments.
ReplyDeleteLAMA