A PROPOSED Eastertide circus at Malvern caused quite a public stir around this time a century ago.

Crowquill, in his Journal comment column of March, 1902, explained the background to the hillside controversy:

Football and other games are played on Good Friday when also the railway companies run excursions. But it is publicly declared at Malvern that 'the religious sense of the Christian community in this neighbourhood is outraged at the appearance of large posters on the walls here announcing the holding of a grand circus performance and procession on Good Friday.'

The letter of protest is signed by 12 clergymen and Nonconformist ministers and has been addressed to the manager of Sanger's Circus. The letter adds: 'We hope that the date may have been fixed through inadvertence, and we earnestly trust that you will arrange for some other date and thus relieve us of the responsibility of warning our congregations in no way to give countenance to such desecration of the most solemn day in the whole year the death day of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.'

The interest of the Bishop of Worcester in sympathy with the concern of the local ministers of religion is expressed in a note written by his lordship who 'would indeed be very thankful if the managers of Sanger's Circus could see the propriety of not disturbing the religious feeling of a great part of the population of Malvern by their procession and performance on Good Friday.'

Recreation on Good Friday is not altogether opposed, but theatres and other places of entertainment are closed on that day, and it is held that a circus parade and performance should not be regarded as a reasonable exception.

It is reported that the managers of the circus have replied, offering to cancel the visit on payment of £300 as compensation for their loss.