"People who sang with the choir at Bangor Cathedral have told the BBC there "seemed to be any excuse to bring out the wine" and "go to the pub" because of a "binge drinking culture".
'Seven last shots of Christ'"After a cathedral concert on Good Friday in 2023, members of the choir went for drinks. A few of the priests came out with the choir," recalled Jessica. "It was deemed appropriate to do the seven last shots of Christ.""The Seven Last Words of Christ refers to seven last sentences that Jesus spoke from the Cross on Good Friday as quoted in the Bible. Because Christ has seven last words, therefore we sang seven pieces of the seven last words in the concert - and that somehow translated into seven shots of Christ," she recalled. I think I left after the first shot because I was like 'I don't think this is appropriate'. There's too many people taking shots in dog collars for me to be comfortable."
"Esmé Byrd was a lay clerk at Bangor Cathedral for six months and regularly sang with the choir until leaving in January 2023. The 29-year-old said the culture and attitude to alcohol was "deeply unhealthy" with some people getting "really catastrophically drunk. Esmé said she became concerned about the wellbeing of younger members of the choir, especially the language used around them. It was the level of 18-rated sexual jokes, crude sexual humour done in front of children as young as six or seven," said Esmé.""The Church in Wales said "concerns about a drinking culture" prompted them to investigate and said alcohol was "not now generally available" after services. Regarding the blessing of beer, the spokesperson said this was occasionally practised in churches but that "the abuse of alcohol is always inappropriate". FULL STORY at above link.
"The former Archbishop of Wales has expressed regret over a “drinking culture” within his diocese after reports surfaced that priests and choir members took part in a “seven last shots of Christ” game at a pub following a Good Friday concert. Andrew John, who retired suddenly late last month, said the revelations were “a shock” and described the behavior as saddening and inappropriate." FULL STORY at above link.