CATHEDRAL SACKS MUSIC DIRECTOR WHO LED CHOIR’S PROTEST SONG AGAINST JOB CUTS
A cathedral has fired its director of music after his choir performed an “entirely inappropriate” song during Mass.
Choristers at Bangor Cathedral in North Wales sang a piece called A Canticle of Indignation during the service of worship on Aug 31.
It was part of a protest against job losses and included lyrics such as “Lord, how long shall the ungodly triumph?” and “How long shall all wicked doers speak so disdainfully?” After the performance, the choir walked out.
Following a “thorough disciplinary process”, the cathedral dismissed Joe Cooper as director of music with immediate effect. It said it had investigated the incident, as well as “serious breaches of confidentiality and data protection obligations during the redundancy process”.
In a statement, the cathedral’s governing body recognised Mr Cooper’s “significant contribution to the music and life of the cathedral” and praised the “high musical standards achieved by the choir”, adding: “We thank Joe for his service and wish him well for the future.”
The walkout was staged after the announcement that five out of eight permanent staff at the cathedral faced losing their jobs. The cathedral said its projected operational deficit to the end of this year was £300,000, and addressing the budget shortfall might “have implications for our staffing structure”.
Mr Cooper, who had been the director of music since Sept 2021, faced having his role halved as part of redundancy proposals.
One part of the protest hymn, based on Psalm 94, said: “They smite down thy people, O Lord, and trouble thine heritage. They murder the widow and stranger and put the fatherless to death. And yet they say Tush?” It was composed in March by Simon Ogdon, a chorister.
Mr Ogden said on social media: “There is a long history of protest through art, even through church music ... I am proud to be part of that. One of the clearest signs of tyranny is its desire to silence dissent and opposition, and that can never be tolerated.”
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At the time, the cathedral said it was a “specially composed and entirely inappropriate piece”, and stopped all choir activity there for an initial period of a month.
The sacking of Mr Cooper follows other troubles at Bangor Cathedral. An independent report earlier this year revealed incidents of inappropriate sexual behaviour and binge drinking. Several serious incident referrals were made to the Charity Commission in relation to the cathedral and diocese.
Andy John, the former Archbishop of Wales, announced his immediate retirement at the end of June after persistent negative news stories related to his diocese.
While there was no suggestion that he took part in the drinking or used inappropriate language around the choir or the congregation, he was the diocesan bishop, and it happened under his watch.
Mr Cooper was approached for comment.
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2025-12-05T19:10:45Z