The hallowed halls of Bangor Cathedral, a historic place of worship in Wales with a lineage stretching back over a thousand years, are now steeped in controversy. Once a sanctuary for prayer and spiritual solace, the cathedral has recently drawn headlines not for its religious contributions, but for allegations of a troubling drinking culture among its clergy and choir members.
The most shocking claim involves priests participating in a game dubbed the “seven last shots of Christ” after a Good Friday service — a tradition that some view as deeply irreverent and inappropriate for the setting. As details emerge, the issue appears far more complex than a one-time lapse in judgment.
A safeguarding review has revealed patterns of alcohol misuse, inappropriate behavior, and inadequate responses to serious incidents. In response to these revelations, the Archbishop of Wales, Andrew John, announced his retirement, signaling a major turning point for the Diocese of Bangor and perhaps for the Church in Wales as a whole.
A Culture of Binge Drinking Behind the Cathedral Walls
The initial allegations that surfaced from Bangor Cathedral shocked many within the Christian community. According to several former choir singers, what should have been a place of restraint and spiritual discipline had allegedly become host to a disturbing “culture of binge drinking.” One anonymous former singer told the BBC that “any excuse” seemed to justify bringing out wine, with even Sunday mornings involving the consumption of multiple bottles of prosecco.
This normalization of alcohol consumption in a sacred space is what appears to have created an atmosphere in which boundaries were blurred. The most egregious example shared was the so-called “seven last shots of Christ” game.
This drinking game reportedly took place following a solemn Good Friday concert in 2023, which featured musical pieces themed around the seven last sayings of Jesus Christ on the cross. Rather than ending the evening with quiet reflection, some members of the choir and a few priests allegedly marked the occasion by downing seven shots of alcohol — one for each of Christ’s final utterances.
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The woman who recounted this story said she left after the first shot, uncomfortable with the scene of clergy in dog collars engaging in a game she felt desecrated the sacredness of the day.
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Her account is not isolated. Esmé Byrd, a former lay clerk at the cathedral, also spoke of a “catastrophic” level of intoxication among some members of the clergy and congregation. She added that safeguarding training was lacking, raising questions about whether church leadership had failed to prepare staff for handling or preventing misconduct.
A Serious Allegation of Sexual Assault and Leadership Failures
Perhaps more distressing than the inappropriate drinking behavior are the claims of sexual assault that have also come to light. One former singer told the BBC that she was assaulted in 2022 by a man who was training to become a priest. According to her, the man had been drinking excessively, and despite warnings she gave to others about his condition, her concerns were ignored.
The result, she says, was an assault that occurred under circumstances that may have been preventable had proper attention been paid to his behavior. This incident, though reported and followed by an apology and cancellation of the man’s priestly training, illustrates a deeper systemic failure.
While the Church in Wales did acknowledge the complaint and took some responsive action, the broader issues surrounding alcohol abuse and safeguarding were reportedly left unaddressed for too long. The woman said the drinking culture persisted even after the assault, with no significant effort to change what she described as a permissive and unsafe environment.
The Church in Wales has confirmed that two individuals came forward with complaints about the same man. It also stated that DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks are now required and that safeguarding training is provided in accordance with UK legislation and internal church policies. However, such measures may come too late for those who experienced harm in a cathedral that, by all appearances, had allowed a culture of leniency and oversight lapses to fester.
Calls for Change and a Crisis of Accountability
In the aftermath of the safeguarding review, the Church in Wales has pledged to reform leadership and governance structures at Bangor Cathedral. The report’s findings prompted the retirement of Archbishop Andrew John, although there is no suggestion that he was personally involved in any inappropriate behavior. Still, his departure is being seen as a symbolic act — a recognition that the problems were systemic and required a change in senior leadership to facilitate genuine reform.
The Church’s spokesperson admitted that alcohol use at Bangor Cathedral had been “inappropriate” and that some individuals encouraged others to consume alcohol in excess. As a corrective step, the Implementation Group formed after the bishop’s visitation is developing a new policy to address alcohol use during church activities. Furthermore, the spokesperson assured the public that alcohol is no longer “generally available” after services and that procedural safeguards are being tightened.
Despite these efforts, public trust in the institution has undoubtedly been shaken. Bangor Cathedral, a monument to Christian faith and Welsh history, is now grappling with the consequences of failing to protect its community from harm and failing to maintain the moral standards expected of its clergy. While procedural updates and leadership changes are necessary, they may not be sufficient to heal the emotional and spiritual wounds felt by those affected.
Beyond Bangor, this controversy may lead to a broader reassessment within the Church in Wales and the Anglican community at large. How widespread are similar cultural issues? Are there adequate systems in place to protect vulnerable individuals within places of worship? And how should the church handle clergy misconduct when it conflicts with its spiritual mission?
These are not questions with easy answers, but they are ones the church can no longer afford to avoid. The Bangor Cathedral case serves as a stark reminder that places of worship are not immune to institutional failings. When authority is unchecked and community concerns are ignored, even the most sacred spaces can become sites of harm.
For the victims, former members, and the wider congregation, the road to healing will be long. It will require not just procedural reforms, but also a sincere commitment to accountability, humility, and transparency — values that must be reinstated at the heart of the cathedral’s future.