AN unholy row has broken out over political posters displayed at a Warrington vicarage.
The Liberal Democrat posters at St Barnabas’ vicarage, in Lovely Lane angered Tory Stephen Taylor – a candidate in the borough council elections – so much that he fired off a complaint to the Liverpool Anglican Diocese.
He said: “As a C of E communicant myself, I find this distasteful and inappropriate that the vicar of this church has chosen to behave in this manner, and I feel it is a cheap attempt to influence a congregation and community to the disadvantage of other candidates.
“It implies in my mind and therefore possibly the minds of others, that the Liberal Democrats are closer to God than other parties.”
Mr Taylor has asked the diocesan authorities to either remove the posters or allow himself and other candidates 
equal billing.
In fact, the posters were erected by Liberal Democrat councillor Bob Timmis (pictured) – husband of the vicar, the Rev Karen Timmis.
He said: “I know there are still some people who think the Church of England is the Tory Party at prayer, but my understanding is that a vicarage is a private house for the purposes of the expression of political views. I am entitled to display an election poster in the same way as the tenant of a council house is.
“I would agree that it would be wholly wrong to display anything political on a church – but the vicarage is a different matter. It is next door to the church, but separated from it.
“If there is any suggestion that a poster was displayed on the church, or in the churchyard, or on the church gate, it is a lie.”
Coun Timmis said one of his posters had been torn down, but he believed this had been done by local youths rather than someone with political motives.
Mr Taylor said: “The signs are within the vicarage curtilage and also the windows. I asked the diocese to investigate because they must have a policy on this and I assume this is a breach.”
The Archdeacon of Warrington, the Venerable Peter Bradley said “The signs in question are not on church property but displayed within the curtilage of the vicarage which is the private home of the incumbent and their family. As such, they are perfectly entitled to display whatever political sign they wish and it would be inappropriate for the Diocese to intervene. However we are aware of the influence our clergy can have on their community and would expect them not to use the church itself as a vehicle for expressing their own political views.”
Row over election posters at vicarage
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
17 Comments
Perhaps the councillor is that insecure, he feels he needs divine intervention to help him win.
Stephen Taylor, “If you want a village idiot, vote for me.”
I didn’t know you were standing Eagle 🙂
Maybe the lib dems should get Jo Grotty to go and have a photo taken with her pointing at the posters in question?
It all seems rather shabby and desperate electioneering to me, the one thing is for certain that given the lies that the L/Ds tell they will never end up in Heaven, so sticking posters in the grounds of a church is the nearest to God that they will get. It puzzles me greatly why the Tories work with them in the Council, in what seems a very unholy alliance.
Yes Warrington Eye, it has always puzzled me as well. they give the Conseravtives the chairmans jobs of all the contentiuos committees and then slope off into the distance when there is any flak to be taken.
Baz, I think he means me, I’m happy to be anyones idiot as long as people vote!
Went to a local question time last night with the three hopefull MP’s for Warr South Bent, Crotty and Mowatt A very interesting night but suprised that Jo Crotty (Lib Dem) did a runner with her bodyguard and other campaign helpers IMMEDIATELY after the formal question time was over. At least the other two hopefulls stayed to mingle, chat and discuss other things with all us mere mortals who had taken the time to attend and listen to them. Why do the Lib Dems need a body guard anyway !?!?!?
“Why do the Lib Dems need a body guard anyway !?!?!?”
Well dismayed, signs of the times I geuss…LoL
any how, who’s Jo Crotty?
Stephen, I know, but eagle is well known for his daft comments!! I was born in Bewsey but now live in Westbrook but for some reason we don’t fall into the Westbrook Parish; but into Great Sankey!! Good luck with your campaign and if I still lived there, I’d vote for you and I know that my mum will be voting for you as she still lives in Bewsey. Maybe Mr Timmis should go and put his posters up in the window of Jo Crottys flat of convenience in Bewsey!!
Dis, Jo probably had to get back to Birmingham!!
Baz,
Nice one, thank your mum, at least that is one in the bag! 🙂
My comment would still be the same if the roles were reversed, the LIb Dem has done nowt wrong whilst the Tory has over reacted.
BTW I will be voting for Paul Campbell & Les Hoyle next week.
BTW Baz, not daft just an opinion made without political bias. Not something you would ever consider.
Slightly off topic here… but I happened to drive past what seems to be the Lib Dems Offices in Warrington today in one of the inner backstreets (if you see what I mean). Only went that way cos the traffic was chocker as usual at 5pm and the diversion signs took me past it. (Now theres another thought as I’ve never been diverted that way before !!!! ) Anyway I never even knew the LD’s had a central office. If this their main base for contact etc it is a right dump and seemed abandoned with to let signs all over it despite the ‘WE WILL WIN’ type paper triangles stuck on the outer walls. Guess they are not expecting to stay around for long after all 🙁 I’m sorry I am not purposely having yet another go at the LD’s but some things just stick in my mind…and I still haven’t decided who to vote for !?? ) PS do the labour praty have a local office anywhere ? Once I know where all three are I may call in and ask some questions 🙂
Slightly off topic here… but I happened to drive past what seems to be the Lib Dems Offices in Warrington today in one of the inner backstreets (if you see what I mean). Only went that way cos the traffic was chocker as usual at 5pm and the diversion signs took me past it. (Now theres another thought as I’ve never been diverted that way before !!!! ) Anyway I never even knew the LD’s had a central office. If this their main base for contact etc it is a right dump and seemed abandoned with to let signs all over it despite the ‘WE WILL WIN’ type paper triangles stuck on the outer walls. Guess they are not expecting to stay around for long after all 🙁 I’m sorry I am not purposely having yet another go at the LD’s but some things just stick in my mind…and I still haven’t decided who to vote for !?? ) PS do the labour praty have a local office anywhere ? Once I know where all three are I may call in and ask some questions 🙂
Twice ?????? And appologies as the word ‘praty’ WAS a genuine mistake and of course I did mean Labour ‘Party’. Sorry 🙁
The Tory offices are opposite the Morrisons store