NOT ALLOWED TO PREACH

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 781, 30 September 1929, Page 1

NOT ALLOWED TO PREACH

BISHOP’S VETO ON LAYMAN STRICT RULE OF CHURCH From Our Own Correspondent HAMILTON, Today. The Bishop of Waikato refused to allow Mr. Edward Branscombe, of the Westminster Glee Singers, to preach on “Music and Religion” ! in St. Peter's Cathedral last evening. Mr. Branscombe then gave his address in the parish hall. Interviewed today, Mr. Branscombe said arrangements were made on Saturday to hold a service in the parish hall. He had earlier been invited byDean Barnett to lecture in the cathedral, but apparently in conformity with some ecclesiastical law or custom. or perhaps because he was not licensed to preach in an Anglican church, the Bishop intimated that he would prefer the lecture was held elsewhere. Mr. Branscombe was surpi-lsed the question was given any publicity. Dean Barnett, when asked to make a statement, refused to discuss the question. Bishop Cherrington said it was a strict rule throughout the Church of England that none could preach in the church without authority of the bishop of the diocese. If this rule was not closely observed anyone without credentials, misrepresenting himself to be somebody, might find his way into the pulpit. He was not consulted on the question of Mr. Branscombe's lecture, but when he heard of it on Saturday- casually, he j asked the Dean to see him, but this : the Dean refused to do. His Lordship added there was nothing unusual in the refusal to grant such an application. Even a visiting clergyman or lay-reader could not preach more than once in any church • without the bishop’s permission. If j anybody was allowed to enter the i pulpit without authority there was no j telling where it would lead.