BISHOP’S ORDER

Southland Times, Issue 21219, 21 October 1930, Page 7

BISHOP’S ORDER

THE DURHAM DISPUTE

EXPELLED PARISHIONERS REINSTATED ACTION AGAINST VICAR (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) London, October 19. Special seats, were reserved for the three excommunicated parishioners at the morning service to-day in readiness for retracting the sentence in accordance with the Bishop of Durham’s orders. The Rev. E. A. Merryweather was not present. The church ornaments, which the objecting parishioners secured an order to remove, did not appear and the altar bore a plain cross, two candles and vases of flowers. The dean, ascending the pulpit, read out Mr Merryweather’s statement declaring obedience to the bishop’s direction “to give notice that the excommunication was null and void and that no steps will be taken to exclude the three parishioners from public worship.” A huge congregation, including many who had motored long distances, heard the statement 'in silence, but friends clustered around, warmly congratulating the reinstated parishioners in the churchyard after the service.

The three ' excommunicated parishioners have issued a writ against Mr. Merryweather for slander.

The Bishop of Durham Issued the order quoted in the above cablegram following an announcement by Mr Merryweather that he would expel from the congregation two men and one woman who had given evidence at the Consistory Court at Durham. The court had ordered the removal of certain articles from the church as a result of a complaint by 600 parishioners that the articles were Romanist. VICAR’S RESIGNATION REPORTED (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) London, October 19. It is stated that the Rev. E. A. Merryweather has resigned his living at Pelton.