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| Archbishop of Wales Andy John Source: Church in Wales |
'Happy' and 'glorious', two words from the National Anthem that have been used to sum up the celebrations of The Queen's Platinum Jubilee. A tribute not only to HM The Queen but to the skill of all those who arranged and took part in the various events.
Among the events was the magnificent Thanksgiving Service held in the splendour of St Paul's Cathedral but there were two notable absences, that of Her Majesty The Queen which was explained, and that of His Grace the Archbishop of Wales which, so far as I can establish, was not.
Glancing at the order of procession in the Thanksgiving Service booklet (page 8), the only dignitary to send a representative was the Archbishop of Wales.
Curiously 'The Representative of the Archbishop of Wales' was not the next most senior bishop, Gregory Cameron, bishop of St Asaph, but the most junior, the recently appointed assistant bishop in Bangor, Mary Stallard.
Why? When Ms Stallard was appointed the archbishop said "I am delighted that Mary has agreed to take on operational responsibility for much of the life of our Diocese to assist me while I take on the role of Archbishop of Wales."
What, one wonders, was so pressing in the archbishop's diary that he was forced to absent himself from probably the most important event since he was elected archbishop, representing the Church in Wales at the Thanksgiving Service for a monarch who has led by example, keeping the faith when too many bishops have not.
Postscript [08.06.2022]
More embarrassment caused to the Church in Wales by its leadership: "The Church of England has its Mississippi and that's called the Church in Wales".
Anglican Unscripted's take on the Archbishop of Wales' Thanksgiving Service snub (starting at position 41.30):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKfBGINajXY
My bets are on the fact that he had pre-arranged television auditions for: 'I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here' (his cathedral for instance), followed by rehearsals for 'Britain's Got Talent' and then - following his Lady GaGa prancing around the High Altar, 'Strictly Come Dancing' Least likely excuse that he was stuck at home in Ty'r Esgob writing those 'sincere apologies' which his Press Officer Anna Morrell informed the Daily Post he'd be issuing. What tosh she speaks.
ReplyDeleteOld Bill
The ears in the walls report that he was engaged on a correspondence course called "Everyday Etiquette and Common Courtesy" being delivered by Paddington Bear.
ReplyDeleteI take pride, AB, in being the first along with Mrs. AB, in spotting the fact that ++Andrew had curiously absented himself from St. Paul's Cathedral and nominated his most junior of junior bishops, Mary Stallard, to represent him and inter alia, represent Christian churchgoers of all Wales. Whatever his reason, it was diabolical. Even for Messers Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness - despite their strong republican political aversion to Royalty - had the courtesy and grace to accept Her Majesty's request to meet.
ReplyDeleteSo fast on the back of that dreadful example of anti-Christ ridiculing of him and his tongues out, boobs-thrusting groupies photo, this is an insult too far as has been noted by the comments - volume and language - of your correspondents. But we are a lobby or 'petition' of anonymous armchair Victor Meldrews venting our angers only on ourselves and each other. This is futile if we are to influence change.
Perhaps the time has come, Sir, for each of us to now put names to our pseudonyms and write directly to our various Bishops (or archdeacons) to vent our anger(s) and bring this AB correspondence to official light. Perhaps ask others of our church communities to do likewise. We would readily write to our MP's regarding some matter of constituency interest, so likewise, write to our representative archdeacons, and if we know them, our diocesan RB representatives.
And so that they cannot shun or ignore such letters, then send copy of each letter to the editor of your/our local newspaper and to your local vicar.
Without expanding our grief to the wider audience so as to prompt more public opinion, then we too are doing what Anna Morrell and the C-in-W are keen to have us do ... to brush all matters of negative comment under the carpet.
If you, AB, were to agree this strategy and encourage your correspondents to follow suit, then it was add so much gravitas and would put ++Andrew on warning that the sheep are quite capable of - and are capable - of speech as against lamb-like capitulation and donkey-nodding to his folly.
For my part, I am today writing to my Archdeacon who happens to be the said Mary Stallard and with copy to sub-Dean Sion ap Rhys who allowed his Sanctuary to be used for his archbishop's foolery. Perhaps others might now look beyond the pages of AB (excellent as many are), to pick up the mantle. The Pen is Mightier than the Sword ... and certainly mightier than ++Andrew's crooked crook.
Ad Clerum
Can we please look forward to seeing your letter(s) published here along with any replies you receive?
DeleteThank you AC. I should emphasis that which appears in the Introduction. The purpose of this blog is to provide my own thoughts on 'topical news/events'. It does not provide for a lobbying facility. While contributions from others are welcome, views expressed by commentators do not necessarily reflect the views of the blog owner so they should take what steps they, themselves, deem necessary.
ReplyDeleteFair answer. I hope to have planted a seed for thought (and action).
ReplyDeleteAd Clerum
It has all been tried before AC, to no avail.
DeleteFour former Llandaff Lay Clerks reported repeated breaches of Employment law and were made redundant for their troubles.
Bill Barlow dared to write the truth in a report for the Friends of Llandaff Cathedral and was threatened with having his licence removed by His --Darkness.
Many people raised verbal concerns over many months and were subjected to the poison pen letters and sermons from the Capon describing them as "subversives".
David Jones and David Lambert reported breaches of Charity law, were ostracised, driven out by the Capon and subsequently bullied by June "I am the accuser" Osborne.
John Pockett wrote to Caiaphas an open letter complaining about the profligate spending on the Diocesan junkett to Santiago da Compostela and was rewarded with another right b*ll*ck*ng .
Have you forgotten more recently about the Llandaff 32, Vicki Burrows and the Llanishen 17 who also put their concerns into writing and were effectively told to go forth and multiply?
By all means have a go at doing things your way AC but I'll just keep plugging away at persuading others to stop their giving, if it's all the same to you.
Best of luck, please let us all know how you get on and copy Martin Shipton in on everything.
A depressing and frankly shocking chronicle of events 1662 straight from the manual of North Korea's Kim Jong Un. But it perhaps strengthens AC's view that we (and others) should unite in concert and spread the discontent wider. Martin Shipton was in fact fully alerted to the photo-nonsense but sadly the Western Mail didn't publish. The Daily Post in North Wales did and congregants up here are agog with its reading. The Daily Post has been erstwhile too in matter of the Diocese's crazy £1m spending on new houses for Dean Cyanide etc., the quitting of priests from the cathedral, the funding (or lack of) the cathedral, the nonsense of Diocesan Secretary Sion-the-Roman making planning application to chop down the cathedral estate trees (a failure after publicity) etc.
ReplyDeleteMembers of Parliament have today demonstrated that when combined change is possible (though the vote hasn't yet taken place) which, when ++Andrew next rehearses his stupid grins and silly faces in the bathroom should give him cause to ponder: "Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who's the greatest of them all..."
Perhaps 'TP' should lead the charge, let him/her take the flak, then the rest of us move in for the kill ... ??
I'm in your camp AC. What's the cost of a 2nd Class Stamp. Tin hats on?
Old Bill
Are "Ad Clerum" and "Old Bill" one and the same?
DeleteBy all means fix bayonets and go for the full frontal assault gent(s) but AB and 1662 have both been around for a very long time and I for one perceive their methods will be of greater concern to the plankers.
Stopping the giving certainly hits them where it hurts. Right in the coffers!
DeleteRealistically, how could the discontent be spread any wider when 99.9% of the population in Wales already have nothing to do with the Cult in Wales?
DeleteThe average age of the few remaining pew sitters must be in the high 70s and giving will almost certainly slide further given the cost of living crisis and fuel prices.
Terminal decline is already well underway but can be accelerated by stopping the giving altogether.
If Llandaff Cathedral is running short of cash, they have an Aga they can sell on eBay.
This 'Anonymous' comment was deleted in the absence of a pseudonym which has now been provided. Apologies if not placed correctly.
DeleteFrom Ad Clerum:
The reality is Exodus that the good Lord is removing the lampstand from its place. Last September the Bishops and the Governing Body were given the opportunity to speak up for Christ and his Gospel. The Bishops demonstrated that they were not shepherds of the flock who would defend Christ's Church from the wolves. That makes them hirelings. The Governing Body similarly had the opportunity to thwart the Bishops' misguided and heretical notions. They chose not to. If the difficulties which COVID brought on the CiW were not warning enough, what we are now going to see is the financial crisis which is coming on this country will kill off the parish system. Churches will close. Clergy will be made redundant. Giving will dry up; and the apostates in their palaces will be able to do nothing about it. Christ calls us to faithfulness; the plankers prefer to jump on bandwagons.
A friend of mine tells me that the Bishop of Swansea and Brecon held a meeting with the clergy, during which he gave some startling statistics. In 1999, the diocese had 5,500 worshippers. This had dropped to 2,500 by 2019. After discussions with his clergy, the Bishop now believed that the diocese had lost a third of that number due to COVID and people not returning to church.
We are watching the Lord removing the lampstand from its place, just as he promised to the churches in the Revelation who would not be loyal and faithful.
@Exodus
DeleteThe rumours on the Green suggest the Capon is vacating the Llandaff Deanery this week.
One wonders if Gerard Elias QC will be there to carry out an inventory/audit of all the fixtures and fittings and to ensure the Aga isn't removed?
Gregory Cameron would also have been the best choice because he already knows the 'Lambeth Set' having been employed in the wider Anglican Communion. Also a happy 63rd birthday to him today 6th June.
ReplyDeleteCymraes yn Lloegr
The Tree Eater is every bit as bad as the rest of them, maybe worse because he should know better. He's another third rater dumped in Wales because England had no use for him.
Deletehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-61712221
ReplyDeleteThe Qataris will be desperately worried about this!
Perhaps the Cult in Wales can put them up and show all the games on a big screen in Llandaff Cathedral with a bubble machine, dry ice, balloons, face painting and a few Rum Pansies thrown in for good measure. 😂 😂
I stopped giving into the Offertory plate a couple of years ago drawing dirty looks from the sidesmen/women proffering the plate under my nose. Solution to my guilty conscience was to drop in weekly cheques made out exclusively to Christian Aid ... that way ensuring that I get the smug feel-good factor from knowing my gifts were going to "Christian" causes while irking the C-in-W bean-counters that they can't spend it on wasteful cosmetics (like the new lavish piano and theatrical vestments purchased at Bangor cathedral at time of dire world crisis, poverty and need. Indeed, snarling sidesmen no long hover around my pew which makes undisturbed hymn-singing so more enjoyable!
ReplyDeleteOh and to 'Tally Ho', am I a clone of subscriber Old Bill? Am I schizophrenic, do I/he lead double lives, are we one and the same? No. Old Bill who I have known for years has a veg-plot and potting shed he allows me to use and he, in turn, uses my O2 broadband/WiFi (not yet available to him in the hills of Gwynedd) for his online stuff. We do, however, share similar thoughts (and vexations) but we are not co-joined at the hip. I'm the one who's had the misfortune of crossing ++Andrew; he's the one who twice met HM Queen !!!
Ad Clerum
You sound so very pleased with yourself, smug, in fact.
DeleteTP
When it comes to wasting my hard earned cash and not giving it to the Cult in Wales for the last twelve years or more you're damn right I'm smug.
DeleteLots of other more worthy charities have benefitted.
@ Ad Clerum:
DeleteA cheque made out to Christian Aid or to some other such worthy cause strikes me as wholly appropriate for anyone who feels somehow impelled to soldier on in Anglicanism 'er gwaetha pawb a phopeth', as Dafydd Iwan would say.
Do you send the cheque off by post, or pop it on the collection plate and leave it to the churchwardens to do it?!
REMIDER
ReplyDeletePlease do not forget your name or pseudonym to see your comment published
One would have no difficulty believing TP, untRuthy and "Fart" are very closely related.
ReplyDeleteA genuine question. The CinW is not an Established church. Do its ministers and, in paticular, its bishops and archbishops have to swear allegiance to the Crown?
ReplyDeleteIn other words, could a senior member of the clergy be a republican and therefore disdain an invitation to a monarch's service of thanksgiving?
(I am thinking hypothetically since I know nothing about the Archbishop of Wales' views on this, or related, subjects).
Judging by their misconduct, I doubt they even swear allegiance to the crown of thorns!
Delete@ Baptist Trainfan:
DeleteNo, they don't; that's peculiar to the C of E.
Thank you, John, that's what I guessed.
DeleteYou'll hear it here first folks: Anna Morrell, Director of Communications to the Church-in-Wales has e.mailed the Daily Post in response to their enquiry ref Archbishop Andy and the snub of St. Paul's Jubilee service. Her pathetic answer is: "He wasn't able to be there as he was leading the Jubilee service at Bangor Cathedral on Thursday evening. He was represented at St. Paul's by the Assistant Bishop of Bangor, Bishop Mary Stallard".
ReplyDeleteShe obviously hadn't read the archbishop's own announcement ref Stallard's enthronement as Asst. Bishop stating it would task her to run the diocese of Bangor while he would concentrate on all-Wales archbishop duties. Cart before the horse perhaps?
And ++Andy is not much better at reading things either - like reading British Rail timetables. Had he really wanted to play his role as most senior representative of the Church-in-Wales there would have been ample time for him to catch early trains from Bangor rail station to London and be still robed and seated at St. Paul's. (But that assumes he had any intention of being there).
To Miss Morrell, might I remind what an old schoolteacher of mine used to write in end of term reports: ".....you really must try harder!"
I hope no one assumed me to be 'smug' for enlightening you all with this official PR statement. And to Baptist Trainfan's interesting question, I wonder if HM Queen is leader of the Anglican Communion (of which C-in-W and CinW are part) rather than just the CofE. Either way, allegiance to the Crown might not be the point as Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness demonstrated in being humble enough to bow to HM. Courtesy and respect are the keys.
Ad Clerum
It isn't the first time Anna has been caught out automatically regurgitating the official line without taking the necessary precaution of verifying the facts for herself beforehand.
DeleteShe got her fingers burned by bully boy --Bazza's PR rubbish but doesn't seem to have learned her lesson.
Thank you for letting us have that explanation AC. The service referred to is reported here https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-61673242. But what was the archbishop doing on Friday?
DeleteAnna Morrell's explanation is ridiculous as it puts Diocese before Province in the archbishop's diary, the opposite of what he claimed would be his priority and the reason for appointing people to help him when he is representing Wales. There is no explanation of why the order of precedence was ignored.
This after so much dissatisfaction in Monmouth, St Davids and Llandaff. The bench sitters must regard those who support them in the pews financially as fools.
I think there is something entirely suitable about the least senior bishop in the Church in Wales representing us at the service at St. Paul's. If you have ever been involved with the hierarchy in the CofE (as I have) you'll know its up its own ar*e - how splendid that we sent one of our freshest bishops to be present at the service. That tells us something quite wonderful about the way we do things. A few of you could learn from that.
DeleteTP
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/jun/07/uk-cinema-chain-cancels-screenings-of-film-the-lady-of-heaven-after-protests
ReplyDeleteThe "creep of extra-parliamentary blasphemy law".
I wonder how many of the signatories to the petition have even seen the film?
Thank you AB. But for fear of monopolising this site (which I am sure you'd caution against), there's another point which Anna Morrell's PR response doesn't address and adds to the intrigue ref the true reason. The Bangor cathedral service (not too well attended) gave ++Andy sufficient time to walk the five minutes to Bangor rail station and catch the 21.30 Bangor-Euston train or, if he didn't want to spend a night in an hotel, then either the 05.14 non-stop to Euston (arr: 08.34) or the 06.18 (arr: 09.40) and still be at Saint Paul's. He claims to be a marathon runner: he could have done it easily without even charging the C-in-W taxi fare.
ReplyDeleteNo, like his buffooned photo and Anna Morrell's lame/limp response to that, the whole thing stinks. Would that we could have an archbishop who could speak the truth.
And in further 'PR' fiasco-pending wheeze to draw the crowds in to St. Deiniol's cathedral, the C-in-W flag and Diocesan flags have been hauled down from the cathedral West tower to be replaced by ..... the LGBTQ+ multi-coloured ensign! What is the man up to!?
Your link to the Anglican Unscripted youtube was spot-on indeed AB. Shame only that we have to turn to American TV commentators for insight. They failed to mention that Asst. Bishop Mary Stallard is not only the most junior of junior bishops that ++Andy Plank could offer, she's also the shortest ... assuming thus that no one would notice her among the throng. We're most unlikely to have our national BBCTV Wales News report this latest disgrace. Bangor Newsroom reporter Chris Reardon who would have been there for the now infamous tongues-out, boobs-inflated photo, is cornerstone lay-clerk and chorister of Bangor Cathedral. I doubt either if he'll be reporting on the massive LGBTQ+ flag fluttering over St. Deiniol's to the dismay of many.
ReplyDelete(Ad Clerum described me as being of the Potting Shed brigade, but this, TP, does not imply that I am 'potty').
Old Bill
Since his arrival in Bangor, Andy Capp has presided over the closure of three Bangor churches, namely St David’s, St Mary’s and St. Peter’s. He has also seen off the first female Dean, Sue Jones, who has now gone on to bigger and better things as Dean of the Anglican Cathedral In Liverpool. Interestingly, he did not attend her goodbye service having specifically been asked not to attend.... obviously there had been a bit of a falling out. Soon after Rev Jones’s departure, Rev Nia also left and more recently Dean Cathy has gone. Something somewhere is very wrong. And now we have the totally disrespectful, shocking family photo taken in front of the altar, deeply offensive... the man is a walking disaster. Thankfully, he chose not to attend Her Majesty’s Thanksgiving Service last Thursday... I wonder why he made this decision as he loves having the opportunity to put on all the regalia... or perhaps the decision was not his. How could he stand in the same building as the Queen who has at all times followed the guidance of the Christian religion. Andy Capp is nothing but a joke...... an idiot... who will discipline him for the despicable example he sets. Perhaps his second wife may have some sway over his behaviour... his first wife is well rid of him.
ReplyDeleteWho will discipline him for his despicable misconduct?
DeleteNobody.
You can count on the Governing Body to precisely nothing!
Who do you think is going to deal with him CBR?
DeleteThe tree eater, DodoJo, Caiaphas, the lesbian?
Remember, it was the other fools on the plank who elected the fool to the position of Archfool in the first place.
Wasn't the chocolate teapot Randy Pandy responsible for appointing Cyanide Sue and Carcrash Cathy?
DeleteTwo words to sum up the chocolate teapot.
DeleteBrain.
Dead.
CBR, welcome to the fold and nice to have an ally up here in Bangor where the focus of AB and others' attention has - for all the wrong reasons - been switched from AGA ovens in Llandaff and Tory Party backlash in St. David's. But you omit some other more valued clerics than Cynanide Sue and Car-crash Kathy: former M/cr sub-dean Canon Phil Barrett who quit the cathedral, Rev Dr. Can. Randolph Ellis, Philip Keeble, Rev. Canon Michael Outram, our archdeacon who went to Guildford Dioc. and our Canon Prescentor David Fisher who took the C-in-W to the brink of Employment Tribuanal before settling happily in Southark Dio ... and many, many more including two fine directors of music who simply QUIT!. And these only the cathedral clergy: goodness knows how many more from the wider diocese like the excellent Rev. John Matthew (Pentir) quit during the Poser's Bangor bishopric.
ReplyDeleteBut of the many recent 'silly games' appointments ++John made was to enoble Jane Coutts as Lay Canon to represent 'the people'. Now I wonder if she has any clue what 'the people' are thinking. And who, out of curiosity, might the lay-member on the RB be for the diocese of Bangor. No doubt another sychophant in it for the occasional trip to Cardiff and self-importance.
If we bump into each other in shadows of St. Deiniol's you'll recognise me as the gent with a brown paper bag over my head ... lest friends wonder what I'm doing hovering by the place with the huge LGBTQ+ gay-rights flag fluttering above. Whose coffers did that come from I wonder? Our chief theatrical wardrobe costumeer Sion ap Rhys-Evans who used to bring his own miniature Mutt to church and up to the altar rail for Communion and now allows others to bring their mongrels into morning Holy Eucharist ... yep; dogs! Not just tethered but freely roaming around the aisle and pews with squeeky dog-toy. It adds to the circus I guess.
Ad Clerum
Not to mention a new canon residentiary who is quite literally dressed in the robes of a Roman Catholic Bishop - theatrics indeed!
DeleteWhat I wonder must the people of Bangor make of it all? After all, it's a very poor area and if they were to step into the Cathedral they would be greeted by clergy in velvet slippers and silk watermarked cinctures - obscene.
Concerned of Bangor
My guess is that 99.9% of the population in Bangor have zero interest in the comings and goings of the Cathedral.
DeleteThe sad thing is, 'Ruff'n'tumble' that until recently, they did. Then the closure of two city centre parish churches, the fiasco of the millionaire-property buying for new Dean's residence, the absolute absurdity of Sion ap Rhys-Evans planning application to chop down the cathedral estate site trees (backfired on him terribly when press and public outcry was so loud that far from being lopped, the entire swathe of trees had Preservation Order slapped on them by Gwynedd Council!), the closure of the University chaplaincy and general lethargy towards University and FE students (zero students now attend services except to grab money from choir singing), Now I hear that the Bangor Royal British Legion (itself suffering losses in membership through natural old age rather than apathy) would be rather keen NOT to have Bangor Cathedral clergy involved in this year's Remembrance Sunday War Memorial commendation. As the C-in-W is disestablished from the Crown, there is no reason why they can't reach out to a charismatic Non-conformist Minister but there we go. The present clergy have not endeared themselves to this prayerful community section either.
ReplyDeleteYou appear well-informed on matters 'Bangorian' so will know the repeated mantra of almost ALL churchgoers of both diocese and cathedral: "Oh, if only Bishop Anthony (Crocket) were still alive ... we wouldn't be in this bloody mess now" Aye to that.
++Andrew hasn't been popular here in 'Gog-land' since he arrived; now that he is Archbishop the full effects of his ineptitude will begin to creep into the remains of the Anglican vine throughout Wales until the last grape withers away. Sadly, it appears to be happening all too quicky and there is no known pesticide.
Old Bill
Not particularly well informed but I did hear it was three city centre Churches closed.
DeleteTony Crockett had a good sense of humour, but as a remarried divorcee his appointment was very controversial at the time and widely considered to be another example of Barry Morgan's plotting and scheming.
Many of the University Students in the choir were confirmed at the Easter Vigil. 15 in total I think. They go beyond singing at standard services by raising money for charity, volunteering to help run Cathedral events and building community.
Delete@Ruff'n'tumble and Sanctus
ReplyDeleteNit-picking, but it is actually two closed city centre churches Sir. St. David's and St. Mary's. The third, St. Peter's sits on the far outskirts of Bangor, but yes: closed as indeed ++Andy closed the once excellent University chaplaincy after which Canon Nathan also quit the cathedral and diocese - another to add to the shocking exodus of priests. As for students who supplement their grants by choir singing. If they do raise money charity, the charities benefit themselves, the 'choir'; volunteering to help run events are events they sing at and buildng community ... well we'd love to know how!!!
Old Bill