Clergyman in robe admonishes choir during their church performance, asserting his authority: "This is my dwelling"
In an unexpected turn of events, Bishop Jonathan Baker, a priest at St Andrew Holborn, made a dramatic appearance at the City Academy Voices concert, halting their performance at St Andrew's in Holborn, London. The incident, which occurred on July 28, 2025, at 11:47 pm, was captured on video and later shared on TikTok.
The bishop, dressed unusually in a dressing gown, approached the stage and addressed the choir and audience, stating that it was past 10 and the event was a "terrible racket." The choir, who were performing their final song, 'I'm Gonna Make You Love Me' by The Supremes, were taken aback by the interruption. Initially, they thought it was a set up.
However, the bishop's intentions were not prankish as initially thought. He was genuinely concerned about the noise level. His actions led to a mix of reactions from the audience. Some were shocked by the abruptness and manner of the intervention, especially given the bishop's attire and the late hour. There were boos and shouting after the incident, but the audience soon applauded the choir, showing their appreciation for their performance.
The diocese of London acknowledged technical difficulties causing the concert to overrun. Bishop Baker reached out to the organizers to apologize for his late-night appearance. Despite the controversy, the choir members, led by their director Leigh Stanford Thompson, managed to turn the situation around with an impromptu a cappella rendition of ABBA's 'Dancing Queen.' Audience members joined in, clapping and dancing along.
Following the incident, there were internal disagreements within the church community. The cathedral’s precentor reportedly resigned amid these tensions, suggesting a divide in opinions about the event's handling.
In summary, Bishop Jonathan Baker's unexpected intervention at the City Academy Voices concert was marked by his abrupt halting of the performance due to noise concerns, while wearing a dressing gown, resulting in both immediate concert disruption and subsequent internal church fallout. The incident, while unusual, has since become a topic of discussion and is a reminder of the importance of clear communication and understanding in all situations.
The video of Bishop Jonathan Baker's intervention at the City Academy Voices concert, which eventually led to internal church disputes, was quickly shared on various social media platforms following the incident.
While the choir's rendition of 'Dancing Queen' managed to bring a sense of unity among the audience, the bishop's unconventional approach to entertainment sparked widespread debates about the appropriate conduct within church premises.
