Winifred Bosa

The Church of England theological college has bemoaned the action of a trainee priest  who held a Cambridge LGBT commemoration service  in Polari, an outdated colloquial language used by homosexuals.

Polari, which dates back as far as the 19th century, was used by men to communicate with one another when homosexuality was considered a crime.

According to a statement by the church ,  during the service which was held at the chapel of Westcott House, in Cambridge, to commemorate lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) history month , an ordinand, a trainee priest, rather than a licenced minister used words from the antiquated slang language which fell out of use in the 1960s when homosexuality began to be decriminalised.

The scripture and liturgy for the service which was printed on to an order of service at the chapel, was not authorised, and was at odds with the teaching and doctrine of the church said  the principal of Westcott House, the Rev Canon Chris Chivers.

An Old Testament reading from the Prophet Joel which says: “Rend your heart and not your garments, return to the Lord your God”, was changed into Polari to read: “Rend your thumping chest and not your frocks – and turn unto the Duchess your Gloria: for she is bona and merciful”.

And instead of “Glory be to the father, and to the son, and the Holy Spirit”, the wording was printed as: “Fabeness be to the Auntie, and to the Homie Chavvie, and to the Fantabulosa Fairy”.

Canon Chivers confirmed that all procedures would be followed to ensure the incident was not repeated and services delivered by the Church of England legally must be held in the church’s approved liturgy.