Anti-immigration activists confronted the Revd Canon Dr Richard Frith inside Doncaster Minster on Saturday, accusing him of failing to support "British values" for attending a counter-protest. The incident occurred as rival demonstrations brought hundreds of people onto the city's streets.
Footage of the confrontation shows protesters surrounding Dr Frith inside the church. One demonstrator is heard stating that the vicar "clearly doesn't support British values" because he is "happy to see this country invaded." Police intervened as tensions escalated. An officer informed a protester that the demonstration's organizer had been notified about the church bells ringing.
Dr Frith clarified that the bells, which ring routinely on Saturdays, were not intended to disrupt the protest. His explanation came after some anti-immigration protesters claimed the bells were deliberately rung to drown out speeches being made outside the Minster.
The Unite The Right UK march organizer, Steve Dand, distanced his group from the incident, stating that those who entered the church were not acting on their behalf. "We're not happy that people entered the church to confront the vicar," Dand said. He added that while they were not impressed by the vicar attending the counter-protest, it did not give others the right to enter the church. Dand asserted that the individuals involved did not represent Unite The Right UK and stated, "I don't condone what they did." He further remarked that entering a house of worship to confront a vicar was "out of order" and that he would personally apologize to Dr Frith.
The confrontations followed a day of rival demonstrations in Doncaster. Supporters of Unite The Right UK marched through the city, chanting slogans such as "stop the boats," "save our kids," and "send them back." Police escorted the march and intervened during a brief clash between protesters and a mother and her daughter.
Unite The Right UK marchers later encountered a counter-protest, with police forming a barrier between the groups. Police then directed the Unite The Right UK demonstration towards Doncaster Minster, where speeches were held. It was during these speeches that the church bells began to ring.
Earlier in the day, counter-protesters organized by Doncaster Together and Doncaster Stand Up To Racism had gathered at a different location. Mayor Ros Jones and local trade union representatives addressed this group before anti-racism demonstrators marched toward the city center.
Doncaster Together later accused members of the rival protest of "violence and thuggery" and condemned the church incident. A spokesperson for the group stated that their prediction of violence had been proven correct, citing the attack on a woman and her daughter and the confrontation with the vicar. The spokesperson questioned why police allowed the demonstrators to march onto church grounds.