A cathedral choir has been suspended after it performed an \u201centirely inappropriate\u201d piece protesting about job losses during holy communion.<\/p>\n
Bangor Cathedral, which was criticised earlier this year over a culture of excessive drinking, sexual promiscuity and inappropriate banter<\/a>, said it had \u201cpaused all choir activity\u201d for a month after the incident. It also said that Joe Cooper, the cathedral\u2019s director of music, was \u201ccurrently away from his duties\u201d.<\/p>\n The choir sang a specially composed \u201cCanticle of Indignation\u201d as clergy distributed wafers and wine during communion. At the end of the piece, the choir silently walked out.<\/p>\n The canticle\u2019s lyrics included \u201cLord, how long shall the ungodly triumph?\u201d and \u201cHow long shall all wicked doers speak so disdainfully?\u201d<\/p>\n Simon Ogdon, its author, wrote on Facebook<\/a> that he was \u201chonoured to be in the same position as #banksy<\/a> in having my art publicly censured\u201d. He added: \u201cThere is a long history of protest through art, even through church music \u2026 and I am proud to be part of that. One of the clearest signs of tyranny is its desire to silence dissent and opposition, and that can never be tolerated.\u201d<\/p>\n The protest was staged after the cathedral announced that five out of eight members of staff were at risk of redundancy due to financial pressures. The music director\u2019s hours were to be reduced, it said.<\/p>\n Earlier this year, an inspection of the cathedral uncovered \u201cweak financial controls, unclear reporting lines, and spending decisions that were insufficiently scrutinised\u201d.<\/p>\n In a statement<\/a> announcing the choir\u2019s suspension, the cathedral said: \u201cBangor Cathedral is experiencing a significant shortfall between expenditure and income. This has far outstripped any increased income, resulting in a financial deficit that, if unaddressed, will place pressure on our reserves.\u201d<\/p>\n Its projected operational deficit at the end of 2025 was \u00a3300,000, it added. \u201cThis puts an unsustainable stress on reserves, which would lead to bankruptcy by the end of 2026.\u201d<\/p>\n It understood that it was an \u201cunsettling time\u201d for the cathedral community, with \u201cstrong feelings and anxiety\u201d. But, it said, the circumstances \u201crequire us all to pull together, for the sake of the gospel and the future life and health of our cathedral\u201d.<\/p>\n In June, Andy John stepped down as archbishop of Wales<\/a> after a series of scandals at Bangor Cathedral were uncovered. Although there was no suggestion that John had behaved inappropriately, he said he took full responsibility for failings under his leadership.<\/p>\n He resigned after a review by ThirtyOne: Eight, a Christian safeguarding agency, heard accounts<\/a> of excessive alcohol consumption, inappropriate language and humiliating banter and a \u201cculture in which sexual boundaries seemed blurred, and to some \u2026 promiscuity was acceptable\u201d. Homophobic comments and an \u201cunhappy working environment\u201d were also reported.<\/p>\n