Bangor Cathedral has suspended all choir activity for an initial month after members of its 20-strong choir sang a self-penned protest hymn and walked out during Holy Communion, the cathedral said. The walkout on Sunday, Aug. 31, took place as clergy were still ministering at the altar following the distribution of wafers and wine.
Cathedral officials said the choir performed a piece entitled "Canticle of Indignation" while members of the congregation were receiving Communion, then filed silently past the altar and left the building. Chapter said it had paused choir activity with immediate effect while it reviewed the events and considered next steps, and that the suspension would provide an opportunity for dialogue between Chapter and the choir.
The action followed warnings sent to cathedral staff that five of eight permanent positions could face redundancy as the cathedral seeks to address a reported £300,000 shortfall. Cathedral documents and briefings indicated proposed cuts could include the operations manager, family officer and verger, and that Director of Music Joe Cooper's hours had been halved. A statement from Chapter said Cooper was currently away from his duties.
Cooper told the BBC he feared the walkout could mark the end of his time as director of music. "I worry this is the end of my time here as director of music and that is a great shame because it didn't need to be like this," he said. A worshipper who witnessed the service said members of the congregation were visibly unsettled and did not immediately begin the next hymn as they normally would.
A petition in support of the choir has gathered more than 1,700 signatures. Chapter told staff that any breach of confidentiality regarding the redundancy proposals could lead to disciplinary action.
The walkout comes amid a series of reputational and financial problems for the cathedral and the wider Bangor diocese. Independent investigators reported in May 2025 that incidents of inappropriate sexual behaviour and other safeguarding concerns had left people feeling unsafe. Andy John, who retired as Bishop of Bangor at the end of August, stood down from his role as Archbishop of Wales in June after the reporting and later acknowledged he had been aware of an alleged drunken sexual assault by a man seeking to become a priest against a choir member.
Separately, the cathedral's former sub-dean, Sion Rhys Evans, left his post last year amid allegations of financial irregularities, including the spending of tens of thousands of pounds on items such as furniture, vestments and choir trips. Documents and reporting said Evans held both the sub-dean and secretary roles at the time. He has since been appointed Bursar and General Manager at Westminster College, Cambridge.
The Charity Commission confirmed it had opened an inquiry into two Church in Wales charities in the Bangor diocese. Cathedral leaders warned this week that unless drastic action was taken the cathedral could face bankruptcy.
Chapter described the recent week as "difficult for all of us who are part of the mission and ministry of our Cathedral Church here in Bangor," and said it would review what happened and consider appropriate next steps. The cathedral dates back about 1,500 years and its choir has previously appeared on BBC's Songs of Praise.
Chapter's full statement said the pause in choir activity would allow for reflection and dialogue. In the meantime, worship and other cathedral functions are continuing under clergy oversight while the institution addresses its financial and safeguarding challenges.