Atheist ‘threatened with almshouse eviction for not attending chapel’

INVESTIGATION: The Charterhouse

EXCLUSIVE

By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor

An atheist living at an historic Hull almshouse has been placed under “investigation” and threatened with eviction for not attending its chapel.

According to the residents’ handbook, all residents at The Charterhouse Hull are required to attend the on-site chapel on Sundays unless excused by the “Master”.

Its governance document states that any resident who is not a member of the Church of England and who applies to be excused “shall be excused from attendance”.

Sandy Smith, 69, who has lived at The Charterhouse for nearly five years, has never been a member of the Church of England and has twice applied in writing – to both the current Master, Reverend Gloria Naylor, and former Master, Canon Paul Greenwell – to be excused from attending chapel at the site in Charterhouse Lane, near Wincolmlee.

She received no formal reply from either and instead has been informed she is under investigation by the trustees. She has been invited to a meeting of a panel, which will consider two alleged breaches of her licence to occupy: failing to attend chapel and having a “cluttered” stairwell outside her flat.

The panel is due to meet on Friday, April 11.

The investigation letter, of February 10, says: “Dear Ms Smith, this letter is giving you formal notice that the Trustees are commencing an investigation into your appointment as a beneficiary of this charity.

“The investigation will be conducted in accordance with the Almshouse Association Standards of Almshouse Management by a nominated panel of Trustees.”

The letter says the panel will report its conclusions to the full board of trustees who will then decide one of four outcomes: take no further action, issue a verbal warning, issue a written warning, or “proceed to set aside the appointment”.

Sandy received her letter confirming her appointment as a beneficiary of the charity on May 12, 2020, which was formally confirmed by Hull City Council. The Master is appointed by the council after being selected by the trustees. The council also appoints five of the trustees.

‘IT’S AFFECTING MY HEALTH’: Charterhouse resident Sandy Smith

Sandy also says that as she moved in during the Covid pandemic she never signed a contract.

Sandy, who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), says she now fears losing her home and that the dispute is affecting her health and wellbeing.

She told The Hull Story she had previously attended chapel out of “courtesy” but stopped going after the previous Master gave a sermon based on the Old Testament which she found offensive.

The residents’ handbook states: “As the Charterhouse is a religious Foundation, all Residents are required by the Scheme [governance document] to attend Divine Service in the Chapel on Sundays 10am for the sung Eucharist unless excused from attendance by the Master.”

In her first request to be excused, Sandy wrote: “As you are probably aware I am an Atheist, but have been attending Chapel since moving into the Charterhouse in an effort to comply with expectations. I am finding this increasingly difficult due to the patriarchal promotion of the Christian ideology within the services. I obviously do not intend any disrespect to you or your religion in saying that.”

ATTENDANCE RULE: The Charterhouse chapel

She then referred to section 32 of the governance document, which states: “The residents shall attend Divine Service in the said chapel unless the Master excuses them from doing so; provided that any resident who is not a member of the Church of England and who applies to be excused shall be excused from attendance.”

Sandy, who says she has cleared any “clutter” from her stairs, said: “I moved in in May 2020 during Covid. I didn’t sign a contract. I’ve asked for a copy with my signature on it and there isn’t one. I’ve got that in writing.

“They did ask me a question about events at the chapel, community events, and I would go to choirs in the chapel but I don’t want to go to a service.

“I went to services for a year out of courtesy. But then he did a sermon which offended me and so I wrote to him saying that. It was from the Old Testament. I wrote to him saying I’m an atheist and didn’t want to go to the services.”

She added: “It’s the process that’s the punishment. I’m not a four-year-old. I’m not having them telling me to go back to church and say I believe. It’s caused division between me and everybody else [other residents]. But it’s the principle. I don’t want to attend. I just want to be left alone.”

The Charterhouse, a registered charity, can date its history back to the 14th century when Sir William De La Pole, the first Mayor of Kingston upon Hull, announced his intention to build a hospital on the site for the poor of the city which was to be called Maison Dieu or House of God.

HISTORIC: The Charterhouse

He died in 1366 before his plan could be realised but his son, Sir Michael De La Pole, carried out his father’s wishes, building God’s House Hospital incorporating a chapel on the south side of the street. He installed 13 poor men and 13 poor women in the hospital, the number representing Christ and the 12 Apostles.

A charter was granted by King Richard II on March 1, 1384, and Sir Richard de Killum, a priest, became the first Master and Keeper of the hospital. The Charter ordained “that every Master thereafter have likewise the order of priesthood and be of 30 years of age or more and, that the said poor men and women, brothers and sisters, be under the obedience of the said Master”.

The residents’ handbook [updated 2020] says: “As required by the Charter and the Charity Commissioners’ Scheme the Master shall be a clergyman of the Church of England in Priest’s Orders and be over 30 years of age at the time of appointment. The Master is appointed by the Hull City Council, selected by the Trustees and submitted by the Trustees to the Hull City Council.”

Responding to our request for comment, Sue Whittaker MBE, chair of trustees, said in a statement: “At present the Board has no comment to make regarding this matter.

“As I mentioned the next meeting of the Board is in early June and your request for a formal response will be put forward at this meeting.

“Additionally, you appear to be aware there is an independent panel meeting with the resident shortly and your enquiry could be considered prejudicial, given the timing of your request, as no decision has yet been received by the Board from the panel.”

Hull City Council said in a statement: “The Charterhouse operates the charity originally established by Michael de la Pole in 1384 in accordance with a Scheme that has been approved by the Charity Commissioners and was most recently revised in December 2015.

“The Trustees that are appointed by the Council exercise their personal responsibility as Trustees to manage the properties in accordance with the requirements of the approved Scheme. Enquiries should be made to the Master Canon Paul Greenwell, and/or Mr Michael Craughan of Fawley Judge & Easton of 1 Parliament Street, Hull HU1 2AS.”