SCENE IN ST. PAUL’S

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19899, 30 May 1936, Page 16 (Supplement)

SCENE IN ST. PAUL’S

Nude Woman Causes Sensation. Seen By 1000 Worshippers.

As the choir was leaving the Vestry at St. Paul’s Cathedral a woman stepped from one of the pews, walked slowy towards the altar and just before she reached the steps slipped -a long cloakdike coat from her shoulders—4o stand revealed unclothed. says a London paper. A thousand people formed the congregation. They gasped with amaze—ment as the woman, aged about 25, sank slowly to her knees, her arms outstretched. The organ had just boomed forth the first notes of the processional hymn and the eyes of the congregation were on the choir rather than on the young woman as she stole past the pulpit into the chancel. She had walked more than 50 yards to the foot of the steps before she attracted the attention of the officials, who immediately hastened after her. Motionless. Everyone in the Cathedral was too stunned, as the woman dropped her coat to the floor, to make any movement towards her. Thus she remained, her hack to the congregation. in an attitude of supplication. Motionless, she remained so for about a minute. Then Mr G. W. Henderson. the sub—librarian, dashed forward from the chancel. He picked up the woman's coat from the altar steps, placed it round her shoulders, and, with the as-

sistance of the verger, gently raised her to her feet and led her to the vestry. Mr Henderson ‘saw at once that she did not appreciate the gravity of what she had done. He therefore asked her to wait until a police oflicer arrived. After brief questioning she was removed to Snow-hill police station, where she was seen by a doctor. “Seemed Dazed." The drama in the cathedral was over so swiftly that everything was normal again by the time the Bishop of London, Dr. Winnington Ingram, who was preaching, and the attendant clergy had taken their places. A man who sat in the choir stalls told a reporter: “The woman was dressed in a dark blue outdoor coat and hat, and it must have occurred to people who saw her that she was going to one of the seats at the far end of the choir sometimes used by members of the congregation. “Members of the congregation were transfixed. It all seemed so unreal. “The woman seemed to me utterly exhausted and dazed. She did not say a. word that was audible, nor did she look towards the congregation. “Throughout the interlude the organist continued to play the proces—sional music, which gave the whole scene a dramatic accompaniment.”