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Vicar resignation rumours denied
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| Rev James Butterworth |
RUMOURS that the vicar of Cirencester Parish Church has been asked to resign have been strongly denied by church leaders.
The congregation at the parish church last Sunday was told that the Rev James Butterworth was on a one-month leave of absence due to ill health.
However rumours spread around the parish that he had been asked to leave and several people contacted the Standard this week asking if the paper could get to the bottom of the matter.
Gloucester diocese spokesman Lucy Walker told us: "I can categorically say that the Archdeacon of Gloucester has not once asked James to resign.
"He is certainly on sick leave but has not resigned. All of his duties will be covered and people shouldn't worry.
Mr Butterworth began his ministry in Cirencester in October last year after serving a parish in the Diocese of Hereford. He is currently overseeing a two-year, multi-million pound restoration programme at Cirencester's historic parish church.
The Rev Warwick Heathcote and the Rev Rosemary Franklin, both of Holy Trinity Church, Watermoor, and the Rev Margaret Bettis, of St Lawrence's Church, Chesterton, will be covering Mr Butterworth's duties during his absence.
11:08am Tuesday 27th November 2007
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CommentPosted by: Keith Burtons on 11:46am Tue 27 Nov 07
Not a clever pose in shorts. You can virtually see what God blessed him with, if you know what I mean!
Not a clever pose in shorts. You can virtually see what God blessed him with, if you know what I mean!
Posted by: Paul Gadd, Chesterton on 11:58am Tue 27 Nov 07
I heard he's been asked to resign as it's been discovered that's he's actually and undercover Jew who was sent in to pilfer money from the restoration fund and he had to get out now because he couldn't face another christmas.
I heard he's been asked to resign as it's been discovered that's he's actually and undercover Jew who was sent in to pilfer money from the restoration fund and he had to get out now because he couldn't face another christmas.
Posted by: Gavin A. Bell on 12:04pm Tue 27 Nov 07
Man of the cloth? You wouldn't think so given that snap! Jesus wept!
Man of the cloth? You wouldn't think so given that snap! Jesus wept!
Posted by: P.Pilot, Cirencester on 9:47am Wed 28 Nov 07
Oh yes? - Is this a case of a naughty vicar, or is it really a case of high ranking church parishioners wanting to "get rid" because he calls a spade a spade and a shovel a shovel and doesn't pander to the needs of the so called church stalwarts who like to rule the roost because they can control the church (and it's staff) with their money?
Oh yes? - Is this a case of a naughty vicar, or is it really a case of high ranking church parishioners wanting to "get rid" because he calls a spade a spade and a shovel a shovel and doesn't pander to the needs of the so called church stalwarts who like to rule the roost because they can control the church (and it's staff) with their money?
Posted by: M.Magdelane on 6:49pm Sun 2 Dec 07
I heard that this guy is undemocratic and listens to nobody but himself and has put more than a few 'noses out of joint'!!
Surely the church today gets enough bad press without vicars like this to make it worse. Perhaps he should just do the honorable thing and 'go before he is pushed'.
I heard that this guy is undemocratic and listens to nobody but himself and has put more than a few 'noses out of joint'!!
Surely the church today gets enough bad press without vicars like this to make it worse. Perhaps he should just do the honorable thing and 'go before he is pushed'.
Posted by: Neil Shepherd, Lancashire on 11:16pm Sun 2 Dec 07
Having been on the staff (Director of Music)at Cirencester Parish Church until July 2006, I know what a gawd **** aweful place it is to work in though. The correspondent above (P.Pilot) seems to have hit the nail on the head. Whilst there are some VERY nice people in the parish of Cirencester, there are also certain people in the church community who seem to think that because they have some money, they can take over and treat paid members of staff like second class citizens. During the time in the parish of Cirencester, there was no pastoral concern for the paid members of staff or their families who were treated appallingly. Perhaps this is the reason this clergyman has exerted his authority and put his foot down? Perhaps he has realised what these high ranking church officials are like and has decided (as I did) to stand up to them from square one and say what he thinks. I'm not saying that the Vicar is right, but if he has made mistakes (as I sometimes did), he is only human and perhaps these "Christians" ought to forgive and forget and allow him to get on with the job to which he is called?
Having been on the staff (Director of Music)at Cirencester Parish Church until July 2006, I know what a gawd **** aweful place it is to work in though. The correspondent above (P.Pilot) seems to have hit the nail on the head. Whilst there are some VERY nice people in the parish of Cirencester, there are also certain people in the church community who seem to think that because they have some money, they can take over and treat paid members of staff like second class citizens. During the time in the parish of Cirencester, there was no pastoral concern for the paid members of staff or their families who were treated appallingly. Perhaps this is the reason this clergyman has exerted his authority and put his foot down? Perhaps he has realised what these high ranking church officials are like and has decided (as I did) to stand up to them from square one and say what he thinks. I'm not saying that the Vicar is right, but if he has made mistakes (as I sometimes did), he is only human and perhaps these "Christians" ought to forgive and forget and allow him to get on with the job to which he is called?
Posted by: Angus Micoatup, Cirencester on 11:21pm Mon 3 Dec 07
I would be interested to see how the planned restoration of Cirencester church is coming on! They've been on about it for years now, but they keep making excuses for delaying it. They've managed to restore the area around the altar and build an expensive loo costing £40,000 or so (not entirely "bog standard"!!). Apparently, they are going to spend nearly three quarters of a million pounds on restoring their organ - when there are millions of people starving in various parts of the world. But then, that's Christianity, the Cirencester way for you!
I would be interested to see how the planned restoration of Cirencester church is coming on! They've been on about it for years now, but they keep making excuses for delaying it. They've managed to restore the area around the altar and build an expensive loo costing £40,000 or so (not entirely "bog standard"!!). Apparently, they are going to spend nearly three quarters of a million pounds on restoring their organ - when there are millions of people starving in various parts of the world. But then, that's Christianity, the Cirencester way for you!
Posted by: Steven Ireland, manchester on 11:16am Mon 10 Dec 07
as a reply to mr angus micoatup, i would firstly like to ask him if he has any knowlegde on the current state the organ is in. Having heard and played it many times over the past several years, one can quite clearly see that this instrument has a huge potential, but is not satisfactory to supply the demands of everyday use, which it is meant for. The organ's prime job is to lead a congrigation in worship, and if it was left in its current state for much longer, that would become impossible. Therefore i ask people who do not know what they are talking about to leave their personal ideas and explainations to themselves!!!
as a reply to mr angus micoatup, i would firstly like to ask him if he has any knowlegde on the current state the organ is in. Having heard and played it many times over the past several years, one can quite clearly see that this instrument has a huge potential, but is not satisfactory to supply the demands of everyday use, which it is meant for. The organ's prime job is to lead a congrigation in worship, and if it was left in its current state for much longer, that would become impossible. Therefore i ask people who do not know what they are talking about to leave their personal ideas and explainations to themselves!!!
Posted by: Angus Micoatup, Cirencester on 10:41am Tue 11 Dec 07
Ah, maybe. But does it warrant such obscene expenditure when there are millions starving throughout the world? NO. Make do with a piano or an electronic substitute and practice true Christianity!
Ah, maybe. But does it warrant such obscene expenditure when there are millions starving throughout the world? NO. Make do with a piano or an electronic substitute and practice true Christianity!
Posted by: Angus Micoatup, Cirencester on 9:19am Wed 12 Dec 07
Gone quiet then, Mr Ireland?
Gone quiet then, Mr Ireland?
Posted by: Pontius Pilate, Cirencester on 8:03pm Wed 19 Mar 08
The word around Cirencester is that the Vicar HAS resigned and an announcement is to be made on Easter Sunday at 6.00pm in Cirencester Church by the Bishop of Gloucester.
The word around Cirencester is that the Vicar HAS resigned and an announcement is to be made on Easter Sunday at 6.00pm in Cirencester Church by the Bishop of Gloucester.
Posted by: Sherlock Holmes, 221b Baker Street on 9:42pm Sat 22 Mar 08
To Angus Micoatup, The organ is the way to lead worship and I realise just how terrible the organ is at the moment. Keyboards and Pianos are not at all capable to lead a congregation of 500+. I reckon if the organ is left for another year it will seize up completely. Without an organ musical worship in that church will simply die. Spending this amount of money may seem ludicrous but it will keep music going in that church for at least another 20 years. I would have thought this years "Sport Relief" would have solved the problem of starving people around the world, therefore leaving money to help a good and justifiable cause. The current plan for a new organ seems far more sensible than some of the previous ones. I entirely agree with Steven Ireland.
To Angus Micoatup, The organ is the way to lead worship and I realise just how terrible the organ is at the moment. Keyboards and Pianos are not at all capable to lead a congregation of 500+. I reckon if the organ is left for another year it will seize up completely. Without an organ musical worship in that church will simply die. Spending this amount of money may seem ludicrous but it will keep music going in that church for at least another 20 years. I would have thought this years "Sport Relief" would have solved the problem of starving people around the world, therefore leaving money to help a good and justifiable cause. The current plan for a new organ seems far more sensible than some of the previous ones. I entirely agree with Steven Ireland.
Posted by: Neil Shepherd, Lancashire on 12:30pm Wed 2 Apr 08
Actually, with a decent rebuilding, the organ in Cirencester Parish Church will last for at least another 100 years, not 20 as stated by Sherlock! The project for the reconstruction of the Cirencester organ is a superb one and will be well worth the wait! Enjoy!
Actually, with a decent rebuilding, the organ in Cirencester Parish Church will last for at least another 100 years, not 20 as stated by Sherlock! The project for the reconstruction of the Cirencester organ is a superb one and will be well worth the wait! Enjoy!
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