Curate arrested after Cathedral protest

A Curate claims he was bundled into the cloisters of Gloucester Cathedral and arrested after protesting against a controversial speaker.

Reverend Keith Hebden walked to the front of the nave to try to interrupt Messianic Jewish preacher David Silver.

But he claims he was escorted out into the cloisters by five members of the congregation - leaving him with bruising on his left arm.

He was then arrested on suspicion of breaching the peace but he was de-arrested a few minutes later after promising police he would head straight home.

The talk, on Monday night, was organised by Gloucestershire Prayer Walkers.

The 33-year-old said: "Just as I finished the question, two people grabbed my arms and there were at least five men around me pretty quickly."

Rev Hebden, of St Katharine's, Matson, said he went "floppy" to show his protest was peaceful but said he suffered fingermark bruises to his left arm as he was taken out.

Rev Hebden said the police were then called.

He said he had no complaint with police, who arrested him in the cloisters.

Mr Silver's visit attracted controversy after Nailsworth mayor Norman Kay asked the Dean of Gloucester, the Very Reverend Nick Bury, to call off the talk because he feared it could inflame cultural and religious relations in the county.

The talk went ahead after the Dean asked the Prayer Walkers for assurances that Mr Silver would not say anything inflammatory.

Mr Silver's Out of Zion ministry preaches the belief that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah.

"He preaches that Arabs should be removed from Palestine," claimed Rev Hebden. "I wanted to protest against that, so I asked a question."

Mr Silver denied Rev Hebden's assertion about Palestine and said he did not know who took him from the nave.

"I have never said that," said Mr Silver yesterday, before his return to Israel.

"I don't believe that.

"It was not violent. They asked him to stop and he would not.

"They took him out and the police took over.

"I was kind of expecting worse than that. We had a forum earlier in the day and he could have made his point then but he did not."

Rev Bury said Cathedral officials had not taken Rev Hebden from the nave but believed it was Prayer Walkers members.

A Prayer Walkers spokeswoman could not confirm if that was the case.

Gloucestershire police confirmed a man was arrested on suspicion of causing a breach of the peace at the Cathedral, but said he was given words of advice and de-arrested after he agreed to leave peacefully.

Rev Hebden said he would not seek to press charges.