The cultural tug-of-war between leisure and responsibility has taken center stage amid crises at Bangor Cathedral, where pub culture intertwines with institutional challenges.
At a Glance
- Bangor Cathedral in Wales is at the center of a major scandal involving allegations of a “binge-drinking culture” and inappropriate behavior.
- Former choir members allege that some priests participated in a drinking game called the “seven last shots of Christ” after a Good Friday service.
- A former singer has also alleged she was sexually assaulted by a trainee priest who was “considerably” drunk at a cathedral event.
- The Archbishop of Wales, Andrew John, has resigned in the wake of a critical safeguarding review of his diocese.
“Seven Last Shots of Christ”
A major scandal has erupted within the Church in Wales, centered on shocking allegations of a “toxic” binge-drinking culture at Bangor Cathedral. Former choir members have come forward with disturbing claims, including an account of a drinking game played by priests and choristers called the “seven last shots of Christ.”
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According to a former singer identified as “Jessica,” after a Good Friday concert in 2023, some clergy members joined the choir at a pub. “It was deemed appropriate to do the seven last shots of Christ,” she told the BBC. She said the seven shots were meant to mirror the seven last words of Jesus from the cross. “I think I left after the first shot because I was like, ‘I don’t think this is appropriate.’ There are too many people taking shots in dog collars for me to be comfortable.”
A “Culture of Binge Drinking”
Other former members have described a “deeply unhealthy” environment where there “seemed to be any excuse to bring out the wine.” One former lay clerk, Esmé Byrd, told reporters there was “a culture of binge drinking” and that some people would get “really catastrophically drunk.”
More seriously, “Jessica” also alleged that she was sexually assaulted at the cathedral in 2022 by a man who was training to be a priest. She claims the man “had had considerably too much to drink” at the time and that her earlier warnings about his behavior were ignored. The Church in Wales has confirmed that the man’s priest training was halted after the complaint was made.
An Archbishop’s Resignation
The revelations have had major consequences. The Archbishop of Wales, Andrew John, who was also the Bishop of Bangor, has announced his immediate retirement from his role. His resignation follows the publication of two critical reports that he himself had commissioned. The reports found evidence of “blurred sexual boundaries,” “inappropriate behaviors,” and safeguarding failures at the cathedral.
While there is no suggestion of personal misconduct by the Archbishop, he has been criticized for failing to address the problems in his diocese quickly and effectively.
In response to the scandal, the Church in Wales has acknowledged the “inappropriate use of alcohol” and stated it is developing new policies to control it. The Church is also creating an implementation group to address the serious safeguarding and governance failures identified in the reports.
