When anti-capitalist protesters set up camp on the steps of St Paul’s in London, its canon chancellor found himself at the heart of a crisis that shook the church even more than the City. As a new play, Temple, explores the affair, he questions the very existence of the cathedral itself
On the afternoon of 26 October 2011, the cathedral chapter of St Paul’s came together for a hastily convened meeting. Some were absent, but there were enough of us to make a decision. And there was only one item on the agenda: the eviction of Occupy. Everyone was tired. Everyone was emotional. The previous weeks had taken their toll. And we all dealt with it differently. During the meeting, I felt almost unable to speak, perhaps overwhelmed by the gravity of the moment. The dean reached across the baize table to hold my hand and break my silence. It was a simple act of kindness in an impossible situation. He, too, was tired and angry. I don’t remember what I said, but it wasn’t enough. The vote was close but it didn’t go my way. A few hours later, I rang the dean’s doorbell and handed him the letter. I couldn’t just pop it through his letterbox. He knew what it was.
I'm played by Paul Higgins, the other ferocious spin doctor in The Thick of It. Some might call this typecasting
Occupy reflects a deep-seated sense that there is something wrong … Of course they were right. Absolutely
The Romans stole Jesus's religion … Christians swapped the rags of the oppressed for the ermine of high office
The poor, vulnerable God of Bethlehem was more clearly articulated in the camp [than in the cathedral]
Continue reading...