St Jude Liverpool
from W.H.B. Proby Annals of the 'Low-Church' Party in England vol 2 (J.T. Hayes 1888) page 479
In this Orange-ridden town [of Liverpool] the Rev. Ernest James Augustus Fitzroy had been appointed to the vicarage of St. James's [sic: should read St Jude's],
Hardwick Street, in 1879; and soon gave offence to his Low-Church
neighbours by improving the services of his church. On Sunday, the 6th
of August, 1882, there were scenes of disorder inside and outside the
church. As soon as the Vicar entered the pulpit, thirty or forty
persons left the church, and, quiet being restored, he gave out his
text, when another batch departed, all the malcontents standing between
the inner and outer door of the church, where they kept up a lively
conversation during the sermon. After the sermon, reinforced by about
150 persons, they returned into the church, and, gathering under the
gallery, formed a large body. The opening prayers of the
Communion-service were read amidst groans and hisses, and cries of
"Shame!" and "No Popery!" After the service the choir, on returning to
the vestry, were hustled, and yells resounded thronged the sacred
edifice. On emerging from the church the Vicar, Mr. Fitzroy, was
hooted, and the mob cut the reins of the horse that was to take him
home. In the evening order was restored by a force of police, but after
the service on leaving the church the Vicar was again hooted.
The Rev. E. J.
A. Fitzroy telegraphed the following account of the affair : —
"Yesterday there were disturbances at St. Jude's, Liverpool, almost
equal to those which have occurred at St. George's-in-the-East and St.
James's, Hatcham; with this difference, that the services which have
elicited mob violence in this instance can in no sense be called
Ritualistic, being simply of the same type as those in cathedrals, and
the only ornaments being a cross and vases of flowers on the
super-altar. Those who object to the present services, having twice
invoked the interference of the Bishop of Liverpool, yesterday during
the celebration of the Holy Communion, stood on the seats, shouted 'No
Popery!' and during the Prayer of Consecration hissed, hooted, and
laughed in the most shameful manner."
On the night of
Saturday, the 16th of September, an orange-coloured placard was posted
in the neighbourhood with the following contents : — "God save
Protestantism! The parishioners oppose the profanation of the services
because of — first, monkish cassocks; second, a surpliced choir; third,
processions; fourth, preaching in the surplice; fifth, intoning the
prayers; sixth, early morning (fasting) celebration of the Lord's
Supper; seventh, naming the Lord's table the 'altar' and bowing to it;
eighth, a cross and flower-vases on the Lord's table; ninth, teaching
the Real Presence and Baptismal Regeneration; tenth, turning to the
east and bowing is [sic] anti-Scriptural and Papistic, and therefore
likely to provoke tumult. Protestants, help in opposing the pranks
until they are withdrawn."
In obedience to
this sensible and Christian invitation, many Low-Churchmen attended the
service at St. Jude's Church on the following day, and gave vent within
the sacred building to various disagreeable sounds; and when the Vicar
and choristers proceeded down the aisle an attempt was made to stop
them. A disgraceful struggle followed, and Mr. Fitzroy and the
choristers took off their surplices on the spot. Several blows were
aimed at him, and he warded them off as well as he could. At last,
however, the police appeared, and a young man, being given into
custody, was afterwards fined five pounds and costs. A meeting of
Protestants was held shortly afterwards in Kensington Fields, and one
of the speakers thereat said that the bishop of the diocese (Dr. Ryle)
had done more of the Devil's work than any man in Liverpool by walking
in procession at St. Jude's Church when he had preached at the harvest
festival there two years before.
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