VICAR DEFIES BISHOP.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9021, 7 January 1908, Page 7

VICAR DEFIES BISHOP.

A difficulty has arisen between Dr.Knox, the Bishop ,of Manchester, and the Vicar of Christ Church, Blackburn, the Rev. George Denyer. In an article in the "Christ Church Parish Magazine" the vicar complains that the bishop has insisted on the U3e of fermented wine at the Lord's Table, despite his protest that many of his parishioners were fqr- ' merly addicted to ov.er-indulgence in strong drink and might be tempted to lapse into intemperance if they tasted alcoholic wine. The vicar contends that he has been commanded to conform to a law not yet established, : and to give up a practice adopted by ! many clergymen throughout the cpuntry and by some in the Manchester , diocese, notably Bishop Thornton, | who, as chaplain at the Lancashire Inebriates' Reformatory, near Black • burn, always uses unfermented wine when celfbrating Holy Communion. . Bishop Knox, the vicar sap/has declined to permit any deacon to assist him if he declines to giveaway in the matter, and this practically means that the vicar will be without clerical assistance of any kind in a parish where he has ministered for many years. Prior to one mission church district being recently created into a separate parish, Mr Denyer's* , pdrish .was the largest in Blackburn. Mr Denyer' also states that the attitude of the bishop can only mean that he is to be, forced into resigning his benefice,, but this he does not propose to do unless it is &e wish of his parishioners. , One of the church officers said that he wa u prepared to find 50 reformed drunkards among the 700 communicants of the parish. He added that there is a possibility of Mr Denyer's action strengthening the backs of other vicars who are at one with him, but have not liked to defy the bishop. "If the bishop takes the vicar before the Ecclesiastical Courts," this gentteman said, "I imagine Mr Denyer will receive the aid of temperance societies throughout the country." Mrs Lewis, a well-known Blackburn temperance advocate, strongly denounces the use of intoxicating wine at Holy Communion, and has publicly referred to cases where reformed drunkards have given way to drink again as the result of attending sacramental celebration.