sermon

Smyth was a prominent barrister as well as a lay preacher - a member of the congregation who delivers sermons but is not ordained - who ran summer camps for young Christians.

In Luke 19:1-10, he spots Zacchaeus, the hated tax farmer, climbing a tree to watch one of his sermons, and singles him out.

They cannot alienate thousands of ordinary citizens looking for a good time, not a sermon.

Soon enough, Barrett and his staff were similarly targeted, facing threats as soon as the judge’s fiery sentencing sermon took off on television and the internet.

Guests were dressed in sparkly sequins, a 20-piece orchestra raised the roof and Dawn French - as the Vicar of Dibley - gave a sermon at the lectern.