Minister's microphone causes a wee splash at church

A MINISTER had his congregation squirming with embarrassment when he used the toilet during a service and forgot to switch off his clip-on radio microphone.

The Rev John Hawdon was standing in for Elizabeth Kay at Longforgan Parish Church in Perthshire.

But when nature called during a break in proceedings, he forgot to switch off his microphone, which broadcast his every splash and sigh to the congregation.

Speaking at his home in Dundee last night, Mr Hawdon said: "I actually had a walk during the service, as I often do. But the congregation must have heard everything. I wasn't aware that I still had my microphone on."

A parishioner said: "It was mortifying. Every sound boomed and echoed around the church. We all sat there looking at each other, totally embarrassed. One or two folk managed a wee giggle."

May Fyffe, a parishioner, said: "Mr Hawdon is an awful nice man and well-respected. His sermons are modern-day but he always comes back to the Bible. He likes to tell a wee joke, too.

"Most folk just see the funny side of this and there are a few jokes going about."

An elderly lady who attended the service said: "Maybe we are getting too clever with things like radio microphones.

"There were a few raised eyebrows and it has been the talk of the village."

She added: "Mr Hawdon certainly made a splash."