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| The Archbishop of Wales (right) and gay pride supporters, the sub-dean of Bangor and former Mayor. Source: Twitter |
A problem has occured with Blogger comments. Four comments recived today for publication have not appeared. I have not found a solution. Others have had a similar problem.
If this publication workers commentators may have more success here. Fingers crossed!
If no more comments appear readers will at least be aware of the problem.
Postscript 23 June 2025
Have you been hacked by His --Darkness?
ReplyDeleteSuccess, Thank you LG.The bench will be disappointed.
ReplyDeleteWho would have imagined that Ancient Britain would have drawn the attention of Cyber-hackers of Iran, China, Russia, North Korea etc to 'thwack' this blogsite. Such action is certainly outside the abilities of the loonies in the IT or PR department of the RB.
ReplyDeleteWell done AB for 'restoring normal service' as the old BBC would have said.
Now, where were we .... ?
Still no sign of the missing comments on the previous thread.
ReplyDeleteI think they must be regarded as lost Matthew. They were from Jo Cooper, Kernow, 'Job for the boys' and yourself. All were received after 1400 Hrs yesterday, 9th June.
DeleteThese commentators may wish to resubmit here using this post as an extension to the previous entry.
They are visible on previous post. It says ‘Load more’ on the bottom of post and they’re included? Fred
DeleteSo simple. I don’t recall seeing the option yesterday but problem solved. Thank you Fred.
DeleteI seem to recall this occurring only once previously many years ago and it caused consternation and confusion then too.
DeleteIt's to do with the maximum number of comments being reached that can be displayed on a "page" at one time.
I think the previous occasion might have occurred over one of the many Llandaff scandals, maybe "Morgan's Organ", the Cathedral choir redundancies, the Songs of Praise fiasco, Janet Henderson's sudden disappearance or the two Davids reporting the Dean & Chapter to the Charity Commissioners.
AB will know in any case.
Correct Simple Simon. I recalled a similar problem when I used the same solution. I cannot recall the post.
DeleteThis may be it. 'The journey's end but for whom?' attracted 258 comments,
Deletehttps://ancientbritonpetros.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-journeys-end-but-for-whom.html
That's the one AB.
DeleteAlmost exactly a decade ago and just look who was the star of the show then too by reading the first few comments.
None other than the chocolate teapot himself, alias Andy Pandy, Andy Cr*p, Randy Pandy.
Over the last decade he's learned precisely zilch.
It does appear the former sub-dean is wearing his cappello with the cord 'tuft' on the wrong side.
ReplyDeleteVestments Manager
Cardinal cosplay
DeleteWalter Mitty
Exactly. The sad truth behind all of this is (likely) a cosplay that has morphed into reality - with near cataclysmic results.
DeleteVestments Manager.
I was talking to someone earlier today, who told me, without me asking, that Sion Rhys Evans has been dismissed from his post at Westminster College. How true that is I do not know. My confidante has links with the United Reform Church.
ReplyDeleteThe Loose Canon
It's true.
DeleteSir Omicron Pi.
SRE's latest peregrinations have been fairly.wodely reported but it appears that his probationary period at Westminster College was unsuccessful, according to this article by Martin Shipton: https://nation.cymru/news/priests-call-for-probe-into-running-of-archbishop-of-wales-home-diocese/
ReplyDeleteI have posted my comment below elsewhere, but thought it might be of interest here as I also tried to post my letter in full on this blog, but was told it was too long!
ReplyDeleteAfter considering what I felt was a rather empty reply last week from the Bishop of St Asaph and discussing it with others, and with the increasing feeling of a number of people that the great difficulties in which the CinW now finds itself need to be expeditiously and openly progressed, I again wrote to him yesterday. I have tried to copy my letter as a comment on here, but it seems it’s too long! If anyone wants to read my letter in full and has suggestions how to post it here, I’d be very grateful.
Very briefly, my letter expressed disappointment at the course of action proposed by the CinW bishops and went on to set out my sole motivation for calling for Andrew John to resign as archbishop – basically my great concern at the huge reputational damage now being suffered by the Church, along with some other significant issues. I added that the CinW should not be expected to take any more damaging revelations and concluded by calling on the bishops to act urgently, decisively and openly in the face of the most grievous crisis the CinW has had to face in its century-long existence.
I hope it is something of a contribution to the debate and could help in a very small way to bring this tragic episode to a resolution for the good of the CinW, its ministry and mission, and for the very many devoted clergy and lay volunteers who undertake such amazing work right across Wales, despite the flawed leadership.
I can confirm that I have received an acknowledgement of my email dated 11 June 2025 from the Bishop of St Asaph's office. I believe he is away for the second half of this week in any event, so I would not expect anything more at this stage.
DeleteI believe I omitted to include my name on my previous update on my email to the Bishop of St Asaph. I'm better using a proper fountain pen than these new fangled IT things.
DeleteJohn, may I commend you for your bravery and persistence. One method previously employed in the 'Llandaff crisis' days was to submit separate numbered pages, eg, 1 of 6, 2 of 6, etc. Best of luck.
ReplyDeleteInteresting developments at Bangor. The Cathedral’s Director of Music, Joe Cooper, has now publicly questioned the two reports published following the safeguarding inquiries. In a post on his Facebook account he says, ‘We worked so hard to create something joyful and respectable. Now to see our reputation in tatters due to poor management is heartbreaking.’
ReplyDeleteThis follows the letter published in the CT calling for a wider inquiry. It seems the two named priests have given Cooper the courage to go public himself. Will others follow or will they allow their own reputations to be tarnished as collateral damage to the falling out between Archbishop and Sub Dean?
Again, AB, I failed to sign my comment before publishing. Sorry. It is Resistance.
ReplyDeleteAB I made a comment to Joe Cooper which was published then taken down. Why was that. My apologies if I violated some rule?
ReplyDeleteNolongeranglican
It was probably thought too personal.
DeleteAh fair enough. I will refrain from that in future.
DeleteNolongeranglican
Announced to congregants of St Deiniol's cathedral (Sunday) was that after lengthy advertising (presumably in the Lunatic's Gazette) there has been some response to vacant position of new Dean. They must either be tight-rope-walkers or those suffering Freudian 'Thanatos' Syndrome. One wonders how many might actually be ordained and hetrosexual. Exciting times eh!!! ?
ReplyDeleteThe trouble is that whatever assurances are given to the naive victim who is offered the job, the day after they land in the deanery, things will change. Their hands will be tied, their authority
ReplyDeleteundermined and the timebomb ticking to their resignation will have begun. It will be a lost cause until John resigns.
Whamab
Surely the sensible thing to do here would be to pause the appointment, and try to find a suitable, solid, respected interim dean (if one can be found, maybe by asking someone to come out of retirement) to steady the ship and gain some stability and trust, especially among the congregants? This was suggested in the splendid Church Times letter from John Prysor Jones and Gordon McPhate. Going ahead like this seems too much like a hurried, knee-jerk, even rash, reaction and most, if not all, potentiallly good candidates would not touch the job with a bargepole. Another vitally important point is that the appointment is, ultimately, in the gift of the Bishop of Bangor, and the current holder of that post has shown himself to be completely incompetent in doing this.
ReplyDeleteAgain, an interim Dean who is respected with the requisite experience and record of delivery would be too much of a threat to John's ego. People of necessary calibre know its a poison chalice from the start.
ReplyDeleteIf John wanted to give David Morris preferment, why on earth didn't he offer him the post instead of making him a Bishop? This is why you don't appoint a curate-in-training as sub Dean. Really, the man is clueless when it comes to leadership.
Whamab
To be fair Whamab, Sion ap Rhys was still effectively 'in post' as sub Dean when David Thomas was elevated to Assistant Bishop and some might argue that this too was another illustration of ++John's cowardism to confront issues: appointing David to oust ap-Rhys. In fact, I suspect that many within Bangor would have favoured David's appointment as Dean; if only to steady the boat for a couple of years and then, while still young, pursue his 'vocation' to purple with added credit to his name. But as with others, he'd first have to show clean hands in matter of ap-Rhys money and perks 'preferment'.
ReplyDeleteDavid Morris, surely?
DeleteSD
Morris the family surname. David Thomas his Baptised/Christian names. Just like most references to the plonker were Sion ap-Rhys with Evans being his family name. Happy with that SD?
DeleteI wouldn’t have thought many set out with the explicit ambition of becoming a Bishop—or do they? Traditionally, roles such as Dean or Archdeacon would provide valuable preparation for such an important position. Rising through the ranks so swiftly, especially at a young age and with relatively limited experience, is certainly uncommon and unwise. But perhaps it’s a sign of the times—many younger clergy seem eager to ascend quickly, sometimes chasing titles and preferment almost as soon as they’re ordained. It feels like a symptom of the age.
DeleteRetired Rector
Prime example of chasing titles and preferment is the inflated ego of St Giles newest poster boy
Delete…the Rector of St Giles will need to take great care his star is not suddenly plucked from the sky as fallout from any part he may have played in the Bangor fiasco, or indeed should he fall foul of the issues alleged among the St Asaph senior staff. He may well find chasing preferment, as the former Sub-Dean and others have found before him, leads to nowhere except being chewed up and spat out….or as some might put it…’mange tout’!!
Delete….or even….’mange tout forges the path to mange Tout’
DeleteAd Clerum
DeleteMange tout, in prayerful context presumably meaning 'Peas Be With You' often pronounced 'Peace be with you ... ' etc.
You are so transparent Ad Clerum, David Morris lets you use the cathedral to process the army around Bangor and suddenly you are all over him.
ReplyDeleteAmazing what can be forgiven when you get what you want eh?
Totally happy - thank you! SD
ReplyDeleteI read somewhere that Evans resigned as Diocesan Secretary in February 2024. Has a successor been appointed? Over 15 months later there is no name on the diocesan website.
ReplyDeleteCymro Alltud
Has SRE still got PTO?
ReplyDeleteAskingforafriend
He doesn’t (at last check) in either Ely or London at present (where both bishops and dioceses are aware). Strange he didn’t ask for one. Others across the Severn are watching.
DeleteVestments Manager.
Why would PTO be an issue? I thought that SRE had left his orders and is no longer a priest. Sad about that tbh as he’s gifted in so many ways, even if delusional in others. On balance, I thought his strengths outweighed his weaknesses and that he’s certainly redeemable.
DeleteOptimist
Who is SRE? Im getting very confused with the names now.
DeleteGoner
@Optimist
DeleteSurely, you jest?
Sion ap Rhys-Evans is demonstrably a complete cretin.
@Optimist you know the man, I dont. However, whatever talent the man had, his (alleged) behaviour is so serious, it should mean he cannot serve at incumbent level. His weaknesses were always going to lead to a disaster. If only John had respected Evans'q provincial panel who could not recommend him for training. Instead John ordained him and made him sub Dean, I mean what could go wrong?
DeleteWhamab
From what Ive been told of the electoral college at Andy Pandy's appointment , he was very much an afterthought. Sue working really hard to make sure Meurig didn't get it, some Irish guy being asked and then turned it down. It was very much last minute Andys name was thrown in and here we are. Perhaps it should never have been in the first place? Very much like SREs appointment.
ReplyDeleteI think all those who had any involvement or complicit knowledge of these events need to be suspended pending investigation. I know that will mean Andy, Morris, Tout, and vast majority of the chapter. But they are having ample opportunity to cover up what might have been criminal actions.
I seriously think the truth behind the archdeacon of merrionydd disappearance is linked with this, they were all in the same gang.
Exbangorworshipper
Should have been Jeffrey John of course. Much might have been avoided had he become bishop.
DeleteRetired Rector
Jeffrey John would have been another disaster, a different kind of disaster granted, but the last thing that Llandaff needed.
DeleteCaiaphas was also a disaster as she demonstrated par excellence.
Well ye'all of little faith; it seems that we're reached crunch stage. But first to Exbangor worshipper and his feeling that Ven Andrew Jones demise as archdeacon was linked to the Bangor fiasco. No it wasn't. What befell him was, apparently, of his own silly doing except of course that Andrew John should never have appointed him knowing his unfortunate public toilet background.
ReplyDeleteBut to the news. There's to be an 'extraordinary' or emergency meeting of the RB in Cardiff on Tuesday. Only item on the agenda is the 'Bangor Problem' and of course, the Media - not cathedral - being blamed for it!!!! Proposal will be for a further 're-visitation' inquiry into WTF has gone on but not who to blame.
There is only one exception to the exclusion of the Bench of Bishops' involvement in discussion and that, of course, will be the lunatic central to the whole fiasco, Andy John who alone retains a seat on the RB. Understanding is however that the six bishops are divided with the power base being Andy cronies; those who attended his 60th birthday bash in Bangor earlier this year for instance ... much like Rhys Evans's Ritz-celeb in London.
Should decision be taken on a re-examination of evidence and complaints in Bangor and the wider Province under ++leadership then pound-to-a-dollar it will be led by some unheard of theologian, washed-out academic or like Medwyn Hughes, chair of an irrelevant brace of Welsh quango organisations with no bearing whatsoever on the core-participation of congregants.
More curiously, the C-in-W hasn't found it necessary to inform its congregant base that there is to be an extraordinary RB session in Cardiff next Tuesday. Another rather arrogant effort to try and brush things under the carpet so as to advertise later 'We had a meeting and decided to do nothing. Take it or leave it'. That's what committees and panels do. They meet to decide that nothing can be decided on!!! The RB and GB are the masters at this (Then, as the recent e.mail to all RB members suggests, submit your hotel and travel expenses to us for repayment. We've got loads of dosh.). Yeah, this RB meeting is apparently so important delegates need to appear in person not join on Team/Skype/Zoom or whatever.
But at least it's nice to know that the RB will enjoy a lovely day in Cardiff and perhaps even a charabanc trip for ice-cream and kiss-me-quick hats in Barry Island thrown in to nullify them and a silly-grins group photo with Andrew-Pratt before they all return to their parishes saying 'Job Well Done'! There's nothing more to see here Guv.'
They need to get one the current Deans to do is a favour and move over to Bangor. Nigel at St. Asaph is a wonderful preacher and Welsh speaker - might he be persuaded to step in and sort out the mess? He has experience in management and is not in the least bit self-promotional.
ReplyDeleteRetired Rector
@Retired Rector I hear he was instrumental in promoting Capon to be appointed Archdeacon of Montgomery. Hardly inspires confidence does it?
DeleteWhamab
@Retired Rector There is no incentive at all for current Deans to move over, if there were a new Bishop one of them might be tempted but not with the current episcopal oversight. There are some very fine Welsh speaking priests of good reputation and with a record of delivery in parish life. They are ready for promotion and could sort Bangor out as long as John keeps his nose out and just turns up when he needs to. The question is why aren't one of these emerging to become the Dean? Is Bangor so broken no-one wants it?
DeleteWhamab
Disagree. Love that Capon was eventually able to lift two fingers to Juno. Don’t think I’m alone in believing that she did us no favours. Again, Jeffrey John should have got her job !!!!
DeleteRetired Rector
No confidence inspired here.
DeleteLots of elderly subversive Llandaff widows were very happy to stick two fingers up at Gerwhine as he headed East to Thaxted.
DeleteDidn't cut the mustard there earlier, did he.
@Retired Rector I think some of Capon's problems actually predated Juno, so to blame her for his woes is somewhat of a convenience. Jobs for the boys: as it is in Bangor so it is in Llanelwy. Juno was catastrophe for Llandaff, I give you that.
DeleteWhamab
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGreat fuss has been made about Bangor Cathedral's good work going noticed. What good work?! For a while now that cathedral has been nothing more than a pantomime putting on a good performance. Thats not a cathedral! People with no faith being paid to perform to enhance the worship. Spending hundreds of thousands on furniture, dressing up, and performing show tunes, yet claiming their work is good because of two tins of baked beans in the food bank basket. Has there ever been a closer alignment to the trumpeting pharasees and the widows mite?! The church is not a social group that happens to open with a prayer. It's has been serving itself and its own interests for too long. When will the CinW realise God is not blessing this type of church!!
ReplyDeleteNo God required when they've got £3billion god's stashed.
DeleteBewildered
So sorry AB that previous post was ment to be signed off:
ReplyDeleteHOPELESS WANDERER