Cart-wheeling verger Ben Sheward rebuked by stodgy clerics after becoming wedding web sensation
Shame on the Abbey clerics for scolding the cart-wheeling verger. There’s nothing wrong with showing joy in God’s house.
I’m sure Jesus didn’t mind one bit! To be able to do cartwheels at his age, Ben derserves a medal.
Daily Mail reports the Westminster Abbey verger who became an internet sensation after cart-wheeling down the nave following the Royal Wedding has been rebuked by senior staff.
Sources at the Abbey said the man was feeling ‘fairly chastened’ after his impromptu display of acrobatics was caught on film.
Although he is unlikely to face any formal disciplinary action, Abbey staff have warned him not to speak publicly about the incident.
While the Abbey has refused to identify him, sources have disclosed he is Ben Sheward, who lives in South London.
The sources said Mr Sheward is believed to have worked at the Abbey for ten years, and he has previously been pictured welcoming new choirboys by sharing sweets with them.
According to some sources, he has studied music in New Zealand and is an expert on the composer Edward Elgar.
Mr Sheward waited until some 1,900 guests had left the Abbey before seizing his chance to cartwheel down the red carpet that William and Kate had just walked along for the first time as a married couple.
In the clip, the black-cassocked verger is shown strolling down the carpet.
As a number of apparent stragglers from the wedding service look on, he embarks on one cart-wheel, smiles, and then squeezes in at least one other before disappearing out of shot.
ITV cameras caught his antics, which were beamed to millions of viewers around the world, ensuring the unsuspecting verger became an international celebrity.
The clip had already attracted 100,000 internet hits yesterday, and comments on various websites had come from as far afield as the United States and Australia. One said: ‘I think this self-publicist should be sacked!’ Most, however, praised him.
A Westminster Abbey spokesman said: ‘The verger, like all of us, was very pleased the service had gone according to plan, and was expressing his exuberance.’ He emphasised that the incident occurred some time after the wedding had finished.
But Abbey officials were keen to prevent the story spreading further yesterday with one saying: ‘We are just trying to keep a lid on this one. The verger has been spoken to a number of times and has been advised how to handle the situation.’
The official denied, however, that the man was in hiding, saying the Abbey had not resorted to such extreme measures.
Yesterday there was no sign of Mr Sheward amid the thousands of visitors to Westminster Abbey.
One verger, who was greeting the crowds, said: ‘We all found it jolly good fun when we heard but I don’t think he anticipated all the publicity.
‘I believe he thought the cameras would have been turned off by that point. Now some visitors are expecting all vergers to be doing cart-wheels.’
Another Abbey worker added: ‘It was lovely, just lovely. It reflected the joy we were all feeling at that point. But he really isn’t looking to become a media star – he isn’t that kind of guy.’
All of the carpets, furniture, fixtures and fittings which had been brought in for the wedding had been cleared away by Friday night.
The only evidence of the nuptials yesterday – besides the larger-than-usual number of visitors – were the 20ft potted trees lining the aisle.
A verger is usually a layman who assists in the ordering of religious services, particularly in Church of England churches or cathedrals.
A verger’s main role is to lead processions during services, and they often play a prominent part behind the scenes, helping to plan the logistical details of a service and discreetly shepherding the clergy through it. But they have a variety of other functions, from acting as odd-job men to guiding tourists around the buildings.
The office’s title comes from the ceremonial rod which a verger carries, a virge, from the Latin virga, meaning branch, staff or rod.
