CHURCH DISPUTE

Southland Times, Issue 21217, 18 October 1930, Page 7

CHURCH DISPUTE

EXCOMMUNICATED PARISHIONERS.

VICAR'S RULING DECLARED ILLEGAL.

(United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) London, October 16. The Bishop of Durham, Dr. Hensley Henson, has written to the vicar of Pelton, the Rev. E. A. Merryweather, enjoining him to give notice to the public next Sunday that the sentence of excommunication on three parishioners is wholly null and void and forbidding any attempt to exclude parishioners from worship at his church. The Bishop added: “Your action is entirely unauthorized and contrary to ecclesiastical law.” A similar letter has been forwarded to the churchwardens asking them to inform him after Sunday whether the bishop’s instructions have been carried out.

There was an extraordinary sequel to an award of the Consistory Court at . Durham lust week. It ordered the removal of certain articles from the Church of which 600 parishioners complained on the ground that they were Romanist. The Rev. E. A. Merryweather, from the pulpit of Pelton Church, Chesterlee street, on Sunday last announced the excommunication of two men and one woman who gave evidence at the Consistory Court. Mr Merryweather said: “We cannot go on being disturbed by these Godless people. I shall expel them from the congregation for three years, and ask all Christian people to treat them as heathens and publicans. They are denied all the rights and privileges of the sacraments of the Church.” This announcement was followed by the Dean of Durham, Dr. Welldon, stating that as far as he was aware a priest in the Church of England did not possess the power to refuse to take divine service if certain parishioners to whom he objected attended. The whole question must naturally be referred to the bishop. Mr E. A. Merryweather then declared that he might have to go to gaol, but he was not afraid.