WORSHIPPERS ELECTED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 922, 15 March 1930, Page 23

WORSHIPPERS ELECTED

VICAR CALLS IN POLICE SHUFFLING AND COUGHING , Remarkable scenes, including the 1 ejecting of the congregation by the j police, were witnessed recently at St. i Michael's Church. Lumb-in-Rossendale, j in Lancashire, where for 15 weeks the ; vicar, the Rev. T. Caleb, has been in i conflict with his choir and congrega* ■ tion. The protesting parishioners walked In procession td the church, and entered after the service had begun. Some of them at once began kicking the woodwork of the pews, shuffling their feet, sneezing and coughing, and the noise was so loud that at times the voice of the vicar was drowned. The vicar’s wife, who acts as his warden, patrolled the aisle trying to check i ttie demonstrators, and the people's y ardon also walked up and down looking in the pews. After about five , inmates the vicar stopped the service, find spoke to his wife, who, addressing the congregation, said: ‘Before we go j with this service, I must tell you that if there is any more kicking of pews we shall call in the police.” ■ Vicar’s Wife and Girl The vicar went on with the service, j although the noise continued. Mrs. Caleb spoke to one girl, who began to cry, and this caused a further commotion One man left his seat and remonstrated with Mrs. Caleb. The Vicar announced a hymn, but although there were 80 people, only six stood up. When the hymn was finished, the vicar went into the pulpit, and this was the signal for a further outburst. Mr. Caleb left, the pupit and went out ©f the church, returning in a few moments with a police sergeant and two constables. The police were led up the church, and on the vicar’s instructions cleared the pews, leaving only those indicated l>y the vicar. As the congregation was shepherded out, it sang a hymn.