Damian Thompson of The Daily Telegraph commented yesterday, “Anglican Lefties have a new martyr in their midst – ex-Canon Giles Fraser, who has resigned from St Paul’s Cathedral in protest at the decision to close the building.”
He continued:
Dr Fraser has become a hero to the tent-dwellers of Occupy London Stock Exchange (OSLX), whose cause he supports. Indeed, a Facebook page celebrating his heroic witness has already been set up.
This is a loss to the Church of England in more ways than one. For, according one church source, “Giles is so mortified at being pushed into the limelight that he intends to devote himself to a life of prayerful contemplation, far away from microphones, TV cameras and the attentions of the newspapers”.
I must emphasise that my church source is not always reliable. Perhaps Dr Fraser will Anglican Lefties have a new martyr in their midst – ex-Canon Giles Fraser, who has resigned from St Paul’s Cathedral in protest at the decision to close the building. Dr Fraser has become a hero to the tent-dwellers of Occupy London Stock Exchange (OSLX), whose cause he supports. Indeed, a Facebook page celebrating his heroic witness has already been set up.
This is a loss to the Church of England in more ways than one. For, according one church source, “Giles is so mortified at being pushed into the limelight that he intends to devote himself to a life of prayerful contemplation, far away from microphones, TV cameras and the attentions of the newspapers”.
I must emphasise that my church source is not always reliable. Perhaps Dr Fraser will reluctantly toss the odd bone to a relentlessly intrusive media – for example, in the shape of the EXCLUSIVE OP-ED ARTICLE BY GILES FRASER! that was reportedly being touted round Fleet Street this morning. For his sake, I hope not. Let his followers respect his wish for silence and restrict themselves to lighting a discreet candle on the steps of St Paul’s in commemoration of his noble sacrifice.
Damian Thompson is Editor of Telegraph Blogs and a leader writer for the Daily Telegraph. He was once described by The Church Times as a “blood-crazed ferret”. He is on Twitter as HolySmoke.