Bishop Apologizes After Halting Choir Concert, Offers Future Assurance

In an unexpected turn of events, a choir concert at St Andrew’s Church in Holborn, London, was abruptly halted by the church’s own bishop. The Bishop of Fulham, Jonathan Baker, intervened in a rather unconventional manner, wearing a dressing gown and barefoot, as reported by the Daily Mail.

The incident occurred towards the end of a summer concert by the City Academy Voices choir, with the bishop reportedly turning on the lights and addressing the attendees. “You are in my house. It’s gone past 10pm and this is a terrible racket,” he announced, requesting the audience to leave.

The interruption, which took place shortly after 10pm, was captured on video and shared on social media. Despite the choir having booked the church until 11pm, the bishop’s call to end the concert led to discontent among the hundreds present, including audience members who expressed their disapproval with boos.

According to the Guardian, the disruption occurred after the choir’s performance of “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” by the Supremes, leaving some singers unable to perform their scheduled pieces.

In the aftermath of the incident, Bishop Baker issued an apology for the “distress and offence” caused. He acknowledged that his actions were taken in haste and assured the choir that such an incident would not happen again.

In his written apology, he stated, “I write to apologise for the distress and offence which I caused on Friday evening in bringing the City Voices concert to a premature end. This should not have happened, I take full responsibility and apologise unreservedly.”

The bishop also admitted to ending the concert before the agreed time, confirming the booking was indeed until 11pm.

He extended an open invitation for the choir to continue using the church space, expressing his long-standing relationship with them. “I have lived here on site at St Andrew’s for 10 years, for much of which City Academy has rehearsed and performed here,” he said.

Bishop Baker concluded with assurances to the performers and audience, “You have been, and continue to be, welcome and I hope that you will be able to continue the relationship with us. I can give you every assurance that the events of Friday evening will not recur and I apologise again to performers (especially those unable to perform at the end of the evening) and audience alike.”