Police were called in as the crowd challenged the priest, with officers eventually stepping in and ushering protesters back outside the historic church.
Police attended Doncaster Minster after the vicar was confronted by anti-immigration protesters (Image: Alan Leggett / SWNS)
A vicar was confronted by anti-immigration protesters inside his own church in a furious row over claims its bells were being rung to drown out their rally. The Revd Canon Dr Richard Frith found himself surrounded by demonstrators inside Doncaster Minster after protesters accused him of attending a rival counter-demonstration earlier that day.
Police were called in as the crowd challenged the priest, with officers eventually stepping in and ushering protesters back outside the historic church on Saturday. Footage captures a group of protesters inside the Minster, with one confronting Mr Frith and telling him he “clearly doesn’t support British values” because he is “happy to see this country invaded”.
Police outside Doncaster Minster (Image: Alan Leggett / SWNS)
The vicar is heard explaining that the church bells ring every Saturday, while a police officer tells one demonstrator that the organiser of their rally had been informed beforehand of the times the bells would sound.
In another clip, a protester speaks to police as Mr Frith stands nearby, before officers escort members of the group out of the church.
The angry confrontation followed a march through Doncaster city centre, after which protesters gathered outside the Minster to hear speeches.
Some demonstrators alleged the church had deliberately rung its bells in an attempt to drown out their rally.
The Reverend Canon Dr Richard Frith (Image: Alan Leggett / SWNS)
However, Steve Dand, spokesperson for the Unite The Right UK march, later condemned those who entered the church and stressed they were not acting on behalf of his group.
He said: “I want to clarify a few things about the march on Saturday which we at Unite The Right UK are not happy about.
“We’re not happy that people entered the church to confront the vicar
“We know that the vicar attended the counter protest – we weren’t impressed that happened – but that doesn’t give people the right to enter that church and confront him about it.
“These auditors do not represent Unite The Right UK.
“They have nothing to do with us. I don’t condone what they did.
Protesters speak with police at the door of the church (Image: Alan Leggett / SWNS)
“Entering a house of God and confronting the vicar was out of order – it should never have happened. I will personally apologise to the vicar for what was done.”
The clash followed rival demonstrations staged in Doncaster city centre.
Flag-waving supporters at the Unite The Right UK event assembled near Doncaster Gallery, Library and Museum before police escorted them through the city.
Many wore or carried Union flags and St George’s flags and could be heard shouting slogans including “stop the boats”, “save our kids” and “send them back”.
There was a brief flashpoint when police dealt with a confrontation involving protesters, a mother and her daughter.
The march subsequently encountered a counter-demonstration, with officers forming a barrier between the rival groups.
Police later directed the Unite The Right protesters towards Doncaster Minster, where speakers addressed the crowd on the green outside.
It was during those speeches that the sound of church bells could be heard ringing.
Earlier, counter-protesters organised by Doncaster Together and Doncaster Stand Up To Racism had gathered elsewhere in the city.
Mayor Ros Jones and representatives from local trade unions spoke to the crowd before anti-racism demonstrators carrying banners marched into the city centre.
Doncaster Together later accused people involved in the rival protest of “violence and thuggery”.
A spokesperson said: “Doncaster Together Alliance predicted that the Unite the Right march in Doncaster would end in violence and thuggery.
“Sadly, that prediction was proved correct when a woman and her daughter were attacked by self-styled ‘patriots’, and then the vicar of St George’s Church had to be protected by police as thugs invaded the church to threaten him.
“Why the police allowed them to march onto holy ground needs to be explained.”