Anti-immigration protesters confronted the vicar of Doncaster Minster inside the church after accusing him of failing to support “British values” by attending a counter-demonstration earlier that day.
The Revd Canon Dr Richard Frith was surrounded by members of the group following rival protests in Doncaster on Saturday, with police stepping in as the exchange became increasingly tense.
Footage of the incident appears to show one protester telling Dr Frith that he “clearly doesn’t support British values” because he was “happy to see this country invaded”. Officers then moved between the demonstrators and the vicar before ushering the group back outside.
The confrontation followed a dispute over the bells at the historic Minster, where an anti-immigration rally was being held on the green outside. Protesters claimed the bells were being rung deliberately to drown out speeches.
One police officer was heard telling a demonstrator that the organiser of the march had already been informed that the bells would sound. Dr Frith explained that they were not being used to disrupt the rally and rang routinely on Saturdays.
Protesters confronted inside Doncaster Minster
The march had been organised by Unite The Right UK, whose supporters gathered near Doncaster Gallery, Library and Museum before walking through the city centre under police escort.
Many carried Union flags and St George’s flags, while demonstrators chanted slogans including “stop the boats”, “save our kids” and “send them back”.
Police formed a barrier when the march encountered a counter-protest, preventing the opposing groups from coming together. Officers later directed the Unite The Right UK supporters towards Doncaster Minster, where speeches took place outside the church.
Earlier, counter-protesters organised by Doncaster Together and Doncaster Stand Up To Racism had gathered elsewhere in the city. Mayor Ros Jones and local trade union representatives addressed the crowd before anti-racism demonstrators marched towards the centre.
There was also a brief confrontation involving a woman and her daughter before officers intervened.
Steve Dand, a spokesperson for Unite The Right UK, said his organisation was unhappy that demonstrators had entered the church to challenge Dr Frith.
“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,” he said.
Mr Dand said those involved were “auditors” who did not represent Unite The Right UK and insisted they had no connection with the group.
“Entering a house of God and confronting the vicar was out of order – it should never have happened,” he said. “I will personally apologise to the vicar for what was done.”
Doncaster Together condemned the incident, accusing members of the rival demonstration of “violence and thuggery”.
A spokesperson for the alliance said the march had ended with a woman and her daughter being attacked and Dr Frith having to be protected by police after demonstrators entered the church.
“Why the police allowed them to march onto holy ground needs to be explained,” the spokesperson said.
Dr Frith was appointed vicar of Doncaster Minster earlier this year after serving as Canon Precentor at Southwell Minster. The Doncaster Minster website lists him as its vicar.
