Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Protest over choir dismissal

A row has broken out in a wealthy London church after the parish priest suspended its professional choir. 

Bequests are said to be have affected and a number of parishioners are boycotting the church.

Members of the choir, which is funded by a trust established by parishioners, were informed of their suspension when they arrived to sing at Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St Simon Stock in Kensington, west London, earlier this year.

The prior and parish priest, Fr Anthony Parsons, later told the choir that they had been suspended indefinitely to give him "time to think" but he apparently gave no other reason for their dismissal. 

Although requests were made for a response, Fr Anthony declined to comment.