SCENES IN CHURCH

Hokitika Guardian, 27 May 1933, Page 3

SCENES IN CHURCH

COMPLAINTS AGAINST RECTOR.

MANY RESIGNATIONS RECEIVED.

Endeavours made by the Bishop ot Truro, Dr. Wa'ler Frcre,' to settle long-standing dilfcrences between parishioners and tneir rector gave rise to remar liable scenes m Warlcggan Church, on the Cornish Moors, neaz Bodmin, recently. The bishop was the cliiel figure at an inquiry when complaints made against the rector, the Itev. F. W. Densliam, Mere inquired into. Tile proceedings caused the church, which has been practically empty during sen ices 111 recent months, to he crowded. Lev oral times the bishop rebuked members of the public for appmuajing, and oiice threatened to stop the inquiry. It was compla.nbd that the rector celebrated Holy Communion in black cotton, gloves; that the altar-cloth was dirty; that lie did not conduct a Sunday school; that there was no 8.30 celebration of Holy Communion; and that he wrote to the police at Liskeard alleging Hint the secretary of .the parochial church council had threatened to kill him.

The secretary, Mr Percy Willcocks, declared that his name had been disgiaced because the rector wrongly charged him with a threat of murder. The rector replied that it was not n threat of killing, but of “laying him aside so that he could not carry ova his work.”

Mr Willcocks stated he approached the rector about wliafc had been going on in the church, but tjie rector did not want to see him. “I told him,” he declared, “ ‘You are not to do any more damage on the church roof.” The rector laughed and said, ‘Well, Jam going to.’ I said, ‘if yon do not stop L will pull you down.’ ”

I The rector here interposed, “I did not say I would go on despite anybody else.” j Tile bishop observed thht evidently I there was a misunderstanding, but Mr Willcocks went on to complain that the rector told the trustees of the neighbouring Methodist clmpel that he 1 had -threatened to kill him. | After this evidence the rector apologised and shook hands with Mr Willcocks.

Later, when it seemed as if the inquiry would end (happily, Mr N. Bunt, a prominent, member of the parochial church council, called upon the members of tile council to stand up, and in their name and his own lie publicly resigned from all eliurcn offices. The bishop tried to: persuade them to carry on, but Mr Bunt and his colleagues adhered : to their de(isjon. ’ . ■: > i

Pointing at the rector, Mr Bunt’ cried, “Remove that man out of the parish. Remove him from us. : He is no good to us.” The bishop stated that he could not do that, and the inquiry closed. ..: , .