Bishop apologises after ordering choir to depart his church

A bishop who shut down a choir concert for making a “terrible racket” and ordering the singers to get out of his church has apologised. 

The Bishop of Fulham, Jonathan Baker, appeared on stage barefooted and in his dressing gown near the top of a special summer concert by the City Academy Voices choir at St Andrew church, Holborn in London, the Daily Mail reports. 

The 58-year-old bishop is reported to have switched on the lights before taking the mic and telling them the concert was “over”. 

“You are in my house. It’s gone past 10pm and this can be a terrible racket,” he said.

He continues, “Goodnight. You are in my house – can you allow it now please. Thank you, it’s over.”

Hundreds of individuals, including the choir, were within the church for the concert and video footage of the incident was shared to social media. Boos may very well be heard after he ordered them to depart.

The Guardian reports that Bishop Baker got here onto the stage shortly after 10pm although the church had been hired by the choir until 11pm.

The disruption got here after a performance of “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me”, by the Supremes, and before the finale, meaning that some singers weren’t capable of perform their songs.

The bishop, who lives on site, has since apologised for the “distress and offence” caused and told the choir that they’re welcome to proceed using the space. 

In a written apology to the choir, he said that he had spoken “in haste” and promised that the incident wouldn’t occur again. 

He also apologised for ending the concert before the agreed booking time, accepting that it was indeed 11pm. 

“I write to apologise for the distress and offence which I caused on Friday evening in bringing the City Voices concert to a premature end,” he said in his letter. 

“This shouldn’t have happened, I take full responsibility and apologise unreservedly.

“I also apologise for remarks which were made in haste and which have understandably caused hurt and distress.”

Expressing his hopes that they’d proceed to make use of the space, he said, “I even have lived here on site at St Andrew’s for 10 years, for much of which City Academy has rehearsed and performed here.

“You have been, and proceed to be, welcome and I hope that you’ll have the opportunity to proceed the connection with us.

“I can offer you every assurance that the events of Friday evening is not going to recur and I apologise again to performers (especially those unable to perform at the top of the evening) and audience alike.”