BATTLE INSIDE CHURCH

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 63, 16 December 1946, Page 4

BATTLE INSIDE CHURCH

RAID MADE ON PULPIT FIERCE STRUGGLES , At the moment of consecration diming Mass at St. Cuthbert’s Church Philbeach Gardens, E,arl’s Court, London, an' elderly man rushed from his seat and mounted the pul-, pit, /shouting: “I protest! Masses are unlawful . ’.,.!”- • ’ Simultaneously about a dozen men and women rose hfere and there among the startled congregation and cried in broken chorus: - “This’ is a parish church of the Church of England ... You are breaking the law of the. Church ... You are indulging in idolatry . •' . We protest, we protest!” They and the man in the pulpit emphasised each word with a shower of leaflets upon the. heads of the worshippers. For a few seconds the whole congregation stood.aghast at the inter-ruption-then, suddenly, there- was uproar, with children crying and women overcome, as choirmen and. sidesmen led a resolute attack on. the disturbers.

Fierce struggles developed in the body of the church and in the sideaisles. Meanwhile, a little greyhaifed woman tackled the man in the pulpit.

Courage was . not- enough, however, and she was obliged to make way for a stronger force—which included a member of St. Cuthbert’s , with many years’ police service. * / Still shouting: .“I protest!” the captor of the pulpit was ejected and : one by one the rest of the “raiders” also were thrown out of the church. Through the hubbub sounded'the aloof and. tranquil voice of the. officiating priest as the service continued: ■ , ’ • ‘ •When the vicar, the Rev. C. L. Gage-Brown, left the church he was met by shouts. >

“I was called many uncomplimentary names,” Mr Gage-Brown said, “but there was no further disorder. , - - •“St. Cuthbert’s was visited in this way once before—by the .Kensitites, 50 years ago.” A similar disturbance -took place after the enthronement of Dr. Wand as Bishop of London at St. Paul’s Cathedral last October.