Bath Abbey choristers break silence over busker row
This article provides first-hand accounts of the dispute between Bath Abbey’s clergy / choristers and street buskers. The tranquillity of the Abbey, founded in the 7th century, has been in the news all week following the abandonment of a service – the first time in living memory – as worshippers could not hear a bible reading because street buskers were using high powered amplifiers. Far from an isolated incident, the Rector described how the use of amplifiers by buskers had “massively increased” in recent years. Now some choristers are considering stepping down (citing stress and frustration) and musicians are threatening to stage a protest. Should we be “weeping for an abbey subjected to the violence of noise” or celebrating the diversity of entertainment provided in the public realm? Bath and North East Somerset Council is looking into banning all amplification near the Abbey, perhaps using a new antisocial behaviour law that comes into force in October. In the meantime if you haven’t already been – and I know I’m biased – Bath is an amazing place: you’ve just missed the Jane Austen Festival but it’s not too late for Feast or Mozartfest!