A heckler

Yes, this morning's Mass was punctuated with a less-than-delightful diversion, which was not from Sarum, John Chrysostom, Tridentine, or any other liturgy that I know of.

We had a heckler.

This started during the sermon, with shouts of "Excuse me!", and a swift stop to it with a stern look and a hand signal from Father. Afterwards, during the period of silence that precedes the Creed, it started again. Again Father told her to stop, and very sternly never to do it again. She continued to shout and so, after much debate with one of the wardens, which lasted for most of the Creed, was escorted off the premises.

Now to be charitable, this lady is clearly unwell. She comes to Mass occasionally, and is usually rather well-behaved, usually reserving her criticism of the sermon and other shouting for after the service, but this is not the first time that she has done this. I am told that this has previously happened once during the Pax, and on another occasion, during the Prayers of Intercession, seemingly because of her disagreement with some of what was said during the course of said prayers.

I think that Father finally decided that enough was enough, and that the congregation should not be made to suffer because of one person's inability to control herself, which seems rather reasonable to me, especially as he had already offered to respond to any of her objections after the Mass.

Disrupting a church service is still illegal in this country, and by right, the wardens could have detained her and called the police. Out of charity and taking account of her mental instability, this route was not pursued, but I think that a stern word, reminding her that she has, in fact, broken the law and could have landed herself in court, may well be in order. Unfortunately, gone are the days when the virger and one of the wardens were provided by Her Majesty's constabulary, but I am sure that they still have some rights to enforce the law in church, especially in situations like this one.

Does anybody remember the incident involving Peter Tatchell in Canterbury Cathedral one Easter Day a few years back? I believe that he was fined for disrupting the Mass, (although it was only during Carey's sermon, so I'm not sure I would have been too bothered, had I been there).

Has anybody else had experiences of this nature? How were they dealt with?

Many thanks.