THE Bishop of Chester, the Rt Revd Mark Tanner, has intervened in a rural parish dispute after flyers were distributed around Chester Cathedral on Easter Day.
The Whitchurch Herald reported last week that flyers listing complaints against the Rector of St Oswald’s, Malpas, the Revd Dr Janine Arnott, had been glued to the cathedral.
Bishop Tanner wrote in a letter to the PCC that the leaflets were “anonymous, factually incorrect, libellous, and sought by forgery to impersonate a bishop”, the newspaper reported.
“We who’ve a long-term concern for the life and work of St Oswald’s Church need to understand how this behaviour will appear to any candidates in the longer term who’re considering moving to serve the village. If we want to present a special image, we must take motion to specific the form of community we imagine ourselves to be.
“I’m, after all, aware that there are other problems with concern within the church and village, and am fully engaged with every valid concern that’s raised,” the letter said.
A separate letter to the PCC from the diocesan legal team, which was leaked to the Whitchurch Herald together with Bishop Tanner’s letter, described the campaign as “illegal and inexcusable harassment”.
Complaints against Dr Arnott related to the church choir and access to the bell tower, along with accusations that her type of working had been “authoritarian”, the paper reports.
A diocesan spokesperson said: “We are concerned and deeply saddened by the continuing tensions inside parts of the Malpas church community which have presented significant challenges inside the parish. The Bishop of Chester has been involved in responding to those matters and actively looking for a resolution.
“It is entirely appropriate for parishioners to lift concerns or seek clarification on leadership and pastoral matters, nevertheless, there appears to be an intention by some to cause damage, disruption, and division.
“The police and other authorities are actually involved as a result of the character and content of those activities. The Rector is receiving appropriate support and is not going to be commenting publicly.
“We proceed to wish for healing and understanding inside the parish and ask all involved to interact respectfully and constructively.”
