The ancient churches continue their cautious accomodation with the internet age. In Cardiff the vicar pictured on the left is offering free wi-fi inside his church so people with laptops can drop in and sit in the corner of the North aisle of St Johns and do their emails (but, obviously, not play Grand Theft Auto with the sound on). The church, says the Rev.Kimber, is "a sanctuary for everyone".
However, in Ireland a man has complained to the Pope because the Kilmallock church bells are no longer rung for the Angelus morning and evening. He phoned the Vatican in disgust. He says the reason is that ringing interferes with a broadband installation in the belfry, for which the church is receiving rent. The broadband company denies this.
And indeed delving further, the Limerick Leader article from February suggests that the real reason is that - as in many other Irish churches - the Angelus ringers have been replaced by the flick of a switch. The result, as any passer-by can tell you, is pretty vile - often enough the sound is crrr-icckd off with a scraping noise in mid-bell. Indeed if you want to hear the old plaintive bell sound at six, your best bet is RTE, radio which still broadcasts it despite a lot of controversy; this on Indymedia. But I like the comment that protest drew out: "Well I don't know where I'd be if I didn't have a minute of staring out the window with my crochet poised in the air. And how else would we know the Six One news was about to start? " Oh, and by the way - someone posted this picture on that site. I feel I should share it, to show that religious controversy in the Republic does go along with some wit:
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