There's a meme about the perfect authority we Episcopalians recognize: the Father, the Son, and the previous Rector. It's funny, but also true. My parish has seen plenty of battles between the vestry, the clergy, and the parishioners. There was a battle royale once between the-then Dean and the choir and parishioners over the Dean firing our lomg-time choirmaster and organist (shades of Sandringham's church!). I sided with the choirmaster. I wasn't too fond of him, but I was far, far more not-fond of the Dean, who had a very naked ambition to have his own crozier and mitre.

I wonder if being one of the King's personal priests has gone to this Vicar's head?