THE director of music at Bangor Cathedral, Joe Cooper, has been dismissed with immediate effect, the Dean and Chapter of Bangor Cathedral announced on Thursday.
The decision followed a “thorough disciplinary process, including investigation into serious breaches of confidentiality and data protection obligations throughout the redundancy process, in addition to actions throughout the service of worship on August thirty first”, the statement said.
“The Chapter recognises Joe’s significant contribution to the music and lifetime of the Cathedral, especially within the creation and performance of choral works within the Welsh language and within the high musical standards achieved by the choir during his tenure.
“Looking ahead, we remain committed to nurturing the cathedral’s wealthy musical and choral tradition and can take time to think about one of the simplest ways forward for our music ministry. We thank Joe for his service and want him well for the longer term.”
In September, the Chapter confirmed that every one activity of the choir had been suspended for one month, after a protest on 31 August by which a “Canticle of Indignation” was sung throughout the 11 a.m. choral eucharist. The choir had walked out after the anthem as an act of protest against proposed redundancies (News, 5 September).
Five out of eight non-clergy posts on the cathedral, including two of the three lay clerks, were prone to being made redundant or discontinued, owing to “a big shortfall between expenditure and income”, the Chapter said in September. Mr Cooper’s hours were also as a result of be reduced.
Last week, Mr Cooper told the BBC that there had been an “apparent reluctance” by the cathedral to work with him to seek out an answer to budgetary problems, which had “left me with no option but to talk publicly”. He said: “We were capable of raise a big amount of cash to permit the cathedral to avoid among the job losses as a direct consequence of my actions.”
