Holy smoke! Vicar accidentally sets himself on FIRE as he prepares church’s online Sunday service
- Rev. Stephen Beach was holding e-sermon for St Budeaux Church, Plymouth
- He leaned in too close to a candle which caught his jumper, setting it alight
- Suffered a hole in his favourite sermon jumper but otherwise unharmed
- Comes as Church of England asked for public worship to be suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
A vicar has been left a bit hot under the (dog) collar – when he accidentally set fire to himself during an online sermon.
Reverend Stephen Beach, of St Budeaux Parish Church, Plymouth was preparing the church’s online Sunday Service, which featured five candles lit on a Christian cross in the background.
After leaning in a bit too close one of the candles caught his jumper which then caught on fire.
In the video, Rev Beach, says: ‘Well, welcome back to our last part of our online worship experience from St Budeaux Parish Church.
‘The last section we call waiting and it’s a great thing to pause in the presence of God and ask the question ‘God what are you saying to us’ and then, of course, to wait for the answer.’
Then, when he realises he is on fire, he calmly adds: ‘I’ve just been pausing between these… Oh dear I’ve just caught fire. Oh my word. Ha.’
His niece Laura Evans said: ‘My uncle is the vicar of St Budeaux Parish. Last night he gave his online sermon and things got a bit hot under the (dog) collar.’
His niece reassured viewers that her uncle was ok and the only thing that was harmed was his jumper.
Reverend Stephen Beach, of St Budeaux Parish Church, Plymouth was preparing the church’s online Sunday Service when he got too close to a candle
‘A hole in his favourite sermon jumper but unharmed otherwise.’
The video was also shared on the church’s Facebook page. One user said: ‘This has made my day. Possibly my year. Please send my best wishes to your Uncle.’
Another added: ‘Thank you for lightening my life tonight, simply wonderful’
The video comes after the Church of England asked for all public worship to be suspended until further notice due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Reverend quickly notices that his jumper is burning, and after some initial shock quickly rushes to hit out the flame
As a way to allow people to still worship St Budeaux Parish will be giving sermons virtually.
A few days ago, niece Laura Evans took to social media to express her concerns over tourists who are planning to ignore the government’s travel advice amid the coronavirus crisis and come to Cornwall.
She’s become well-known in Cornwall as the St Ives Mermaid and even started a campaign to be the first contestant on Strictly Come Dancing with a tail.
She made her name around four years ago, when she started washing up on West Cornwall beaches.
She then made her hobby into a business and has been delighting young and old alike at beaches and venues all across Cornwall.
As time progressed her special appearances gained popularity, with hundreds heading to the beach to watch as she ‘washed up’ and posed for photographs with excited children.