Occupy protesters chain themselves to pulpit of St Paul’s Cathedral

SEVERAL supporters of the anti-corporate Occupy movement chained themselves to the pulpit of St Paul’s Cathedral during a Sunday service in an action marking the anniversary of its now-dismantled protest camp outside the London landmark.

The Dean of St Paul’s, David Ison, said he was taking an evening prayer service when “four young women dressed in white” chained themselves to the structure. He added: “It will be a long, cold night if they want to stay there.”

Photos showed the women, one of whom was in a wheelchair, around the pulpit with a note written on an umbrella which stated: “Throw the money changers out of the temple.”

Other protesters unfurled a banner with a similar message outside the church. Occupy said the women cut themselves free and left at around 10pm last night, after police officers told them they faced arrest.

Protesters against capitalist excess and social inequality set up camp outside Christopher Wren’s landmark on 15 October, 2011, after they were stopped from demonstrating outside the nearby London Stock Exchange.

The tent city embroiled the historic church in a conflict between bank-bashing demonstrators – inspired by New York’s Occupy Wall Street protesters – and the city’s finance industry.