SCANDALOUS SCENE IN A CHURCH.

Evening Star, Issue 6480, 22 December 1883, Page 2 (Supplement)

SCANDALOUS SCENE IN A CHURCH.

A sentence of three years' suspension for intemperance was recently pronounced at York by Lord Penzance against the Rev. E. J. A. Fitzroy, incumbent of St. Jude's, Liverpool, but it did not put an end to the scandal connected with that church, as the pariahioners hoped it would. Pending the I decision of the Court, Mr Fitzroy was inI hibited by the Bishop of Liverpool, the church being committed to the charge of the Rev. Waadale Watson, with whom Mr Fitzroy has repeatedly interfered ; but it was expected that the sentence of Lord Penzance would put an end to the difficulty. A few weeks ago the curate in charge notified that there would be no early celebration of the Holy Communion on Sunday, October 7; but Mr Fitzroy entered the church, had the bell runf j and about thirty persona attended. Mr Watson also attended, and took up a position within the communion rails with a police constable on each side of him. Mr Fitzroy, wearing surplice and stole, proceeded to the readingdesk and read the ordinary morning service, substituting other lessons for those of the day. The people's warden tried to stop him, but was unheeded. At the conclusion j of the service Mr Fitzroy said that as the parish warden and curate were present to prevent him administering the Eucharist, he forbade the congregation taking part in the holy office that morning, but he would attend and take tho service at eleven o'clock, when the warden or curate could give him in charge if he wished. Mr Fitzroy then went into the vestry for a time, and seemed so much excited when he again emerged that Mrs Fitzroy begged that a doctor might be brought. No medical man was brought, however, and Mr Fitzroy remained in possession of the vestry. Meanwhile, the warden sought Archdeacon Bardsley, and told him what had occurred. Though the archdeacon had arranged to preach in St. Dunstan's Church, he proceeded to St. Jude's, where he found a large congregation and Mr Fitzroy (surpliced) sitting in his stall. The Archdeacon consulted in the vestry with the curate and the two wardens; but while this was going on Mr Fitzroy commenced reading the service, though the choir had not entered the church. Mr Bardsley, with the wardens, proceeded to Mr Fitzroy, and the Archdeacon tried to induce the suspended incumbent to stop, but no notice was taken of this advice, Mr Fitzroy continuing the reading, with the result of great confusion in the church. Mr Fitzroy's persistence elicited cries of "Turn him out," and there was a rush of excited people towards him. Ultimately the Archdeacon had the church cleared, and he got Mr aud Mrs Fitzroy away in a cab, which was surrounded by an excited crowd, and would probably have been capsized but for tho Archdeacon and Mrs Fitzroy being in it.