before two men pulled the occupant out and he fell on the pavement. Dressed in a suit and red clerical-collared shirt befitting his station, the Bishop spent several hours enjoying the convivial hospitality. He couldn't stand up straight and fell over, banging his head. He had a big lump over his eye. (LogOut/ But most unfairly, the report stated that the Bishop conducted the John Young memorial service earlier that same day, when it had actually taken place several days earlier, as laid out above. Shakespeares Local. Or, even more intriguingly, could it be - as the indignant Bishop now claims - a sudden neurological affliction which has left him unable to recall any of the post-party events? The main contribution of staff is to effectively provide a customer support service for parishes. Mr Sumpter, who has been interviewed by the police and whose car has been dusted for forensic evidence, told the Sunday Times: "I initially thought he was breaking into my car. We were laughing because he was staggering so much as he walked off.. He wasnt dropped off in a cab, so he either took a late train from London Bridge to Streatham, or the Northern Line tube to Tooting Bec. . Monty Python's Michael Palin and John Cleese discuss their 1979 televised debate on the film Life of Brian, with Roman Catholic journalist and satirist Malcolm Muggeridge and the Bishop of . Apparently, the Bishops intention was to return to his private residence in south London. Less than five hours later he arrived at his home in Tooting with head wounds, bruises and a black eye. It was there that the bishop's evening took a dark - some may say comic - turn. In fact, with the Bishop claiming he had absolutely no recollection of the evenings events, it was even suggested by his defence that the entire episode may have been the consequence of him suffering from a neurological condition known as transient global amnesia. "I told him that there wasn't a simple one, but he asked the same question again and continued to hang on to my arm for about five or six minutes. At its peak, the brewerys 24-hour operation saw the production of over seven million gallons of beer annually (56 million pints). The Right Reverend Tom Butler said he still had amnesia and was. A Church of England bishop who may have been found drunk in a car parked outside a London bar was known for being "utterly ruthless" with drunken priests. I hope there are no longterm ill effects. Morrison was brought in by Richard Coekin, minister of Dundonald Church in Wimbledon, due to a dispute with Butler over matters related to homosexuality. [19], For other people named Thomas Butler, see, "Evangelicals defy bishop by holding 'irregular' ordinations", "Article redirect | VirtueOnline The Voice for Global Orthodox Anglicanism", "The strange case of the bishop and the black eye", The Times Online comments on the drunken Bishop episode, Diocese of Bradford Former Bishop of Southwark to be 'Mentor Bishop', The Transformation Programme Archbishop appoints interim area bishops, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tom_Butler_(bishop)&oldid=1023304508, This page was last edited on 15 May 2021, at 17:16. It was one of those pre-Christmas receptions with drinks and nibbles, with interesting conversations and interesting people. A footnote makes it clear that other evidence 'may in due time put a different complexion on the matter' and, crucially, a clause in brackets makes it clear that the question of the truth of any allegation is yet to be determined: Chancellor Bursell qualifies references to the alleged drunkenness in the complaint with the phrase 'if it occurred'. Until 1995 he chaired the follow-up to "Faith in the City", which published the controversial "Staying in the City" report. The report's finding is that some of the allegations - if true - would be serious enough to justify being taken on to the next stage. Today South London, Tomorrow South London is available to buy now on Amazon, or at all debauched bookshops. (LogOut/ He's supposed to be a role model and being drunk in a gutter he can't be a good example. On 7 September 2009 he announced that he would retire on his 70th birthday, 5 March 2010.[17]. The headline accompanies a story about a report into allegations around an incident last December involving the Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Revd Dr Tom Butler. Dr Butler warmed to his theme on the radio, saying: "It's very worrying, I still have amnesia. Bishop Butler has been a member of the episcopate for 21 years and at Southwark for more than eight years. "I have no doubts it was Dr Butler," Mr Sumpter said. It was the account of the wedding of Cana, when the booze ran out and Jesus saved the day by turning the water into wine. Hearing his car alarm go off, a Mr Paul Sumpter, who was playing pool in the bar, dashed outside to investigate. Homilies, Articles and Address. Mr Adams said he had decided not to take matters further. Asked what he was doing, the bishop allegedly told Paul Sumpter: "I'm the Bishop of Southwark. Account managed by @SouthwarkCofE. See the recipe here. The author explains how Stockwood defended his actions by declaring, Anyone would think theres one law for princesses and bishops, and another for the rest of us.. He has served as a member of the Crown Nominations Commission since 2011. The commemoration started early doors when mourners piled into the nearby Wheatsheaf pub, a Youngs house. Resplendent in ecclesiastical red shirt and pin-striped suit, the Right Reverend Thomas Frederick Butler, one of the Church of England's most senior bishops, introduced himself to the majority present - some of them twice - with the words: "I am the Bishop of Southwark.". It's not comical; it's sad for him, and for the church." Police on Wednesday (April 26) issued an appeal . One, who prefers to remain nameless, says: "He came shuffling over and said: 'I am the Bishop of Southwark'. "Why can't he be honest and admit to being drunk? He said: "I don't remember anything . Mr Sumpter apparently said: "Oi, what are you doing in my car?" You must be at least 18 years old to create an account, Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number, I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from Evening Standard. Whatever happened, the incident is sure to dismay church liberals and may induce glee among some evangelicals, because the bishop has been a doughty and outspoken sympathiser with the plight of gay people in the Church of England, especially Dr Jeffrey John, a former canon of Southwark, who was forced to stand down from his appointment as suffragan bishop of Reading by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, three years ago, after protests from evangelicals because he is gay. His name is in the Southwark token books from 1595 to 1602, and Martin Slawter, a servant, was buried there on 4 August 1625. . Apparently unable to stand, Dr Butler then fell to the ground, striking his head and spent some time sitting in the gutter, where he declined the offer of an ambulance from the bar manager, Paul Sathaporn. It was subsequently suggested in the media that Butler, apparently under the influence of alcohol, had sustained the injury while being removed from a stranger's car into which he had apparently climbed. With the help of the bar manager, the prelate was hauled out of the vehicle, and a fractious street argument followed as a group of onlookers gathered. I certainly don't think it's a resigning matter.". Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? [2] He was enthroned in Southwark Cathedral on 12 September 1998. Ruth Gledhill. In fact, it took place a good walking mile away in Belgravia. Get involved in exciting, inspiring conversations with other readers. When you are drunk, you will run around. All rights reserved. It was Mervyn Stockwood, Bishop of Southwark from 1959-1980, who first cemented the image of the mashed mitre in the Anglican arena. During his seminary training he completed a Baccalaureate in Sacred . The Right Reverend Tom Butler suffered head. It was quite embarrassing, as I was trying to leave.". You can opt-out at any time by signing in to your account to manage your preferences. Box 111Shohola, PA 18458, LONDON: Bishop was drunk after Christmas party, leaked report says. "It was not like he had been punched but more like he had scratched his face against a wall or had fallen over". Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. And the 'mugging' injuries? He said: "I would not be able to do my job if I got drunk," insisting he had no intention of resigning. 'Drunken' bishop faces battle to save his job. The Italian revolutionary Garibaldi later visited the brewery staff to personally thank them. After you finish running, you will start to write. A few days later, Mr Sumpter's wife allegedly discovered Mr Butler's briefcase in the car. Her insights, wisdom and pastoral skills - and particularly her gift of championing the ministry of lay . But either way, we applaud the man for taking the night off to walk with his flock. June 06 2007 04:42 AM. Unfortunately, he left several items behind in the car. The situation calmed and the Bishop flopped down on the kerb, ignoring all offers of assistance. Its what I do.). In today's Britain, however . mojo In these records man clearly means player. The Benn Diaries: 1940-1990 (May 1963).Brown, Pete. The other was Mervyn Stockwood, the bishop of Southwark, who set the tone for the hour when he compared the Python picture to "a farce about Auschwitz." This section of the program started out . "It's very worrying, I still have amnesia," he said. The Globe was at once rebuilt. Sometime around 9pm, amid persuasion and protestations, the Bishop was encouraged to leave, much to the embarrassed Ambassadors relief. "But there lies the difficulty. he decided on legal advice that no further action should be taken. The Christian Peoples Alliance suggested that the Rt Rev Tom Butler may lose his office after he suffered a head injury last week and told a congregation he was probably mugged. And sometimes, not on the route. But that wont stop many making the pilgrimage to Borough in December and raising a glass to honour the man. He explained: "Every Anglican has in one sense an 'interest' in the discipline of the clergy but that does not mean they have a 'proper' interest on each occasion. Get involved in exciting, inspiring conversations. June 6, 2007. But it was his reportedly prodigious capacity for alcohol that raised eyebrows, with the Synod unsettled by such claims as the drunker he became, the sharper his memory. Wednesday, December 6 Bishop tells his congregation he was mugged after the previous night's function, Friday, December 8 He says when he got home he was "without his briefcase and mobile phone and had several fresh head wounds", Sunday, December 10 After reports of drunkenness, Dr Butler admits he could not remember the incident. "I don't get drunk frequently I wouldn't be able to do my job if I did. and was told my injuries were consistent with a blow to the head, so I assumed I had been mugged, but that's a supposition", Monday, December 11 As clergy called on their bishop to issue a statement of repentance and regret, he repeated that he had no memory of the episode, Tuesday, December 19 Dr Butler says that being intoxicated would have been "entirely out of character". . Warning nurses could keep striking up until Christmas, Online petition to save Brixton Academy surpasses 50,000 signatures, Minister to provide update on Sue Gray switch to Labour, Ukraine army drive out Russian troops from Bakhmut positions - general, Australia bans recreational vaping in major public health move, Woman stabbed to death in street in Brixton, Princess Charlotte pictured smiling ahead of eighth birthday. The Bishop of Southwark is facing a battle to keep his job after he was apparently found in a tired and emotional state in the back of a stranger's car after a Christmas party. The Crown clearly resumed its rights over Southwark, probably when the Bishop of Bayeux was disgraced, but 12th-century grants to the abbey of Bermondsey, the Archbishop of Canterbury (see under 'Manors') and the Count of Mortain must have greatly diminished the rights of the Crown. . while grabbing my arm in a vice-like grip. The next evening he told the congregation at All Saints Church in Dulwich that he had been attacked and his head was too badly swollen to wear his mitre. From 1980 to 1985, Butler was the Archdeacon of Northolt in the Diocese of London. Totally oblivious to the trail of chaos he had left behind him, he then staggered off under the railway arch towards Holy Rood Street. They have two grown-up children and four grandchildren. In September 2018, Cherry was received into full communion with the Catholic Church in the Parish of the Most Precious Blood an Anglican ordinariate parish in the archdiocese of Southwark. Butler has been active at national and international level. The Daily Mail has re-examined the evidence in an attempt to solve the mystery of the Bishop's missing hours. "I really do defy anyone who's had too much to drink to make that (route) journey.". Bishop of Southwark having tests for amnesia after allegedly throwing toys around in a stranger's parked car. It was established in Shakespearean times, right next door to the playwrights famous Globe Theatre. No-one could accuse Bishop Butler of not being able to organise a piss-up for a brewery. There was a copious amount of champagne available for the multiple charging of glasses. Recently, @davidfrum said he never saw anyone as drunk on TV as the Bishop of Southwark when he debated John Cleese & Michael Palin about "Life of Brian" in 1979. Some hours later, the 66-year-old prelate, a regular on Radio 4's Thought For The Day, was found six miles away outside his home, the Bishop's House in Tooting Bec, South London, with a black eye, bloodied, a bump on his head and a number of personal items missing. "We were introduced as he left and he asked me 'What's the solution in Iraq?' The Most Reverend John Wilson. When Mr Sumpter and friends tried to remove the Bishop from the car, he fell to the ground, bumped his head and then sat on the kerb. I just wish the man would tell the truth. The Bishop was exonerated by the Church from any wrongdoing as lawyers advised that nothing could be proved. But was it true? John Adams, a former churchwarden from Croydon, submitted a formal complaint against his bishop, who was found bloodied with a black eye and a bump on the head outside Bishop's House in Streatham, South London, several hours after leaving the Irish Embassy last December. By Matthew Beard THE INDEPENDENT December 11, 2006. I have seen clergymen drink before but never so openly. Scrooge mentions the beverage in the closing lines of A Christmas Carol. The latter was later confined to the Marshalsea in Southwark, dying there as a prisoner in 1569. Australia bans recreational vaping in major public health move, Ukraine army drive out Russian troops from Bakhmut positions - general, FTSE 100 Live: HSBC profits soar to $12.9 billion; BP results, Minister to provide update on Sue Gray switch to Labour, Lil Nas X swapped clothes for body makeup at the Met Gala, Online petition to save Brixton Academy surpasses 50,000 signatures, Princess Charlotte pictured smiling ahead of eighth birthday, Woman stabbed to death in street in Brixton, Blade Runner vandal chopping Ulez cameras down breaks silence. Thomas Frederick Butler (born 5 March 1940) is a British retired Anglican bishop. CANON Jeffrey John, whose appointment as the Church of England's first openly homosexual bishop threatened a worldwide split among Anglicans, withdrew his acceptance of the post yesterday. Now, Southwark is a place close to the heart of the Soul City Wanderer. It might well have been a personal plea. "I told the police I arrived home without my briefcase and with bruising on my face and a gash on the back of my head. @ smithinamerica. The Rt Rev Dr Tom Butler will step down from his post in March after. Undeterred by the weight of evidence about his behaviour at the party and in Crucifix Lane, the bishop has started a fresh round of protestations of innocence. The Bishop of Southwark is facing a battle to keep his job after he was apparently found in a tired and emotional state in the back of a stranger's car after a Christmas party. This account already exists. One was the King's Bench, and the other the Clink, whence the expression "in the clink." Its site is today recalled by Clink Street, near Southwark Cathedral. First, the undisputed facts: In December 2006, Butler, a noted churchman who regularly appeared on Radio 4's Thought for the Day in his role as bishop of the Anglican diocese of Southwark . A Bishop is facing calls for his resignation after he allegedly spent a drunken night out and then claimed to parishioners that a head . 600 "Better a Rubbery man than a Devil," Southwark says, banging the tabletop with his fist. Suddenly, he scrambled back to his feet and crossed to the other side of the lane claiming he was actually the Bishop of Woolwich. robmiller. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, 'Drunken' bishop faces battle to save his job, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Get up to 10% off using the Booking.com app, 50 off over 650 using this Expedia discount code, $6 off a $50+ order with this AliExpress discount code, 10% off selected product with this eBay voucher code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK May 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this May, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. Bishop Butler has been a member of the episcopate for 21 years and at Southwark for more than eight years. "He therefore caused further investigation to take place and a separate complaint was then laid. Andrew Nunn. He made his way up the staircase into the ballroom, where he was announced by the Master of Ceremonies. The address of the Bishops residence, his final stop, was also incorrect. He was getting louder and louder.". Butler's beliefs were cited as the reason for some "valid but irregular" ordinations in his diocese. The Rt Rev Dr Tom Butler will step down from his post in March after turning 70, the statutory retirement age. It was attended by one of his favourite drinking pals, none other than Princess Margaret. There are 175 Parishes within 20 Deaneries across the South of London and Kent, serving a large population of around . Then he got up and staggered away. Soul City Wanderers own book Soul City Wandering was released in 2020. Each Episcopal Area has a team of staff working with local parishes. He was the ninth Anglican Bishop of Southwark. During the run-up to Christmas 2006, the Bishop of Southwark reported to police that he had been the victim of a shocking street mugging, in which he had been seriously injured and robbed of several personal possessions including his ceremonial crucifix. . The Ballad of the Boozy BishopAt the Irish embassy, with Christmas in full swing,I told em Im a man of god, so kiss my holy ring,And when they tried to make me leave, I raised a ballyhoo,Singing, Im the Bishop of Southwark, and this is what I do., And then from Hyde Park Corner, I carried on my spree,Piccadilly, Pickled, and on the Jubilee,Across the mighty river Thames, I met my Waterloo,Singing, Im the Bishop of Southwark, and this is what I do., In the southern part of town is where I get my kicks,London Bridge is falling down, I lose my crucifix,Passers-by avoid me, as I come stumbling through,Singing, Im the Bishop of Southwark, and this is what I do., I found a car to sleep in, I didnt mean no harm,I crawled onto the back seat, but set off the alarm.The owner pulled me out, and shouted: who the hell are you?Singing, Im the Bishop of Southwark, and this is what I do., The next day in my sermon, to justify my loss:I told em I was stumped at where Id left my holy cross.I still remember nothing. With calls for the Bishop's resignation beginning to grow among the more abstemious members of the church, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, announced it would be 'dangerous' to rush to conclusions about what had happened. The western part of the parish probably became more populous . A diplomatic incident occurred here in 1849 when the visiting brutal Austrian dictator General Haynau was attacked by employees. After the service, the Bishop hosted a reception in a marquee attached to the side of the cathedral. However, after interviewing several key witnesses, a very different version of events began to filter through, and it heavily contradicted the Bishops account. "We're going though the whole gamut because we're worried. . The bishop reportedly staggered home from a function at the Irish embassy on Tuesday night, climbed into the back of a stranger's Mercedes, and started throwing an infant's toys out of the vehicle. The headline accompanies a story about a report into allegations around an incident last December involving the Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Revd Dr Tom Butler. So far be it for me to let the facts stand in the way of a good Southwark story, or indeed, stand in the way of a mini-industry (festive pub-crawls now take place with revellers resplendent in t-shirts emblazoned with the legend: Im the Bishop of Southwark. He served as the General Synod representative on the Inner Cities Religious Council, an initiative set up by the Department of the Environment, until 2001. Volunteer Essex Police officer drove while drunk on the A120 near Marks Tey. The bishop reportedly staggered home from a function at the Irish embassy on Tuesday night, climbed into the back of a stranger's Mercedes, and started throwing an infant's toys out of the. intoxicated: stupefied or excited by a chemical substance (especially alcohol); "a noisy crowd of intoxicated bishops"; "helplessly inebriated", pisshead He was completely out of it, reported Mr Sumpter. It's what I do.". For the south London beer industry, it was truly the end of an era. Instead of returning directly to his home from the Embassy, it seems Dr Butler, for reasons unclear, headed back to Borough. The Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, Bishop of Southwark, said: "Anna will be a huge gift to the Diocese of Leeds - as she has been to us in Southwark in giving leadership in mission as Oxted Team Rector and serving the Church more widely. He began a ceremony for a new priests' institution at All Saints Church in south London by apologising to the 300-strong congregation, saying that the mitre no longer fitted his bruised head because he had "apparently been mugged". Property developer Paul Sumpter, 39, was playing pool in the bar and ran out to see the hazard warning lights of his silver Mercedes A200 saloon flashing and the rear door open. Here he managed to set off a car alarm outside the Suchard Bar in the aptly-named Crucifix Lane, a dark and windy outpost by the railway arches of London Bridge. the Lord Bishop of Southwark. He got up and staggered under the railway bridge, said Sathaporn. You must be at least 18 years old to create an account, Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number, I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from Evening Standard. "I had a drink," he added. He added: "It would be entirely out of character if I was drunk," before broadcasting a Christmas message of mercy and love as his Thought For The Day. Something wrong with this article? ---The Revd Jonathan Jennings is the Archbishop of Canterbury's Press Secretary. Cold, hard facts have, it seems, replaced the warming succour of blind faith and murmured superstition. Trinity House 4 Chapel Court Borough High Street London, SE1 1HW Tel: 020 7939 9400 Fax: 020 7939 9468 General e-mail: [email protected] Communications Tel: 07831 694021 It was only at that point, on the basis of all the evidence then before the Archbishop, that he took the decision, announced last month, that no further action should be taken. AN Anglican bishop could have been prosecuted for drunkenness under ecclesiastical law after a Christmas party at the Irish Embassy in London, according to a . The report in question was a preliminary report, intended merely to assess whether - if true - the allegations made by the complainant would be strong enough to justify proceeding further with the disciplinary process under the Clergy Discipline Measure.