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Have we got more pews for you!
Church News, Issue 1653
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RETIRING TYPE: Andrew John stepped down as archbishop of Wales with immediate effect
THE past is catching up with senior figures at Bangor Cathedral as more?tales emerge of boozing and inappropriate conduct (see last Eye), including priests and choristers downing copious shots after a Good Friday concert, and allegations that binge drinking led to sexual assaults at the cathedral's "Oktoberfest" event in 2022.

The Archbishop of Wales Andrew John has announced his sudden retirement, admitting "shortcomings and poor organisational practice which shouldn't have happened", which he had not addressed quickly enough.

Bangor out of order
The Charity Commission has launched regulatory compliance cases into both the Bangor Diocesan Trust and the Dean and Chapter of Bangor Cathedral, after serious incident reports were filed. Concerns flagged included jollies to Rome and Dublin for cathedral clergy and staff, and the purchase of more than £400,000-worth of designer pews and other furniture.

Concerns over safeguarding were also flagged in a report by an independent charity. Only the summary was published, but even that was damning, revealing a culture of excessive boozing after services, blurred sexual boundaries and inappropriate language and behaviour.

Right mess
Local MP Ruth Jones has called for publication of the full report, "because unless you know what's gone wrong, how can you put it right?" The church says this isn't possible because those who were interviewed for the report had an expectation of confidentiality.

Last week, trustees of the representative body of the Church in Wales warned both the cathedral and the diocese that funding depends on demonstrating financial controls and safeguarding procedures are in place, so charitable assets are only "used to further the Church's mission and benefit the public in a manner consistent with our values and legal obligations".

They also urged the cathedral to commission another external investigation, specifically on "the behaviour, culture and activities of the cathedral choir", following the issues mentioned in the report summary around drinking, as well as "inappropriate language, rude jokes and innuendoes" in the presence of child choristers.

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