The Rt. Rev. C. FitzSimons Allison, retired Bishop of South Carolina, went to Brockton, Mass., to give "comfort and encouragement" to nearly 100 former congregants of St. Paul's Church, May 16. He went without the invitation or blessing of the Rt. Rev. M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE, Bishop of Massachusetts.

Members of the congregation have assembled, since receiving an order to vacate March 12, every Sunday on the sidewalk outside their former church building to begin the Eucharist [TLC, April 11].

The former rector, the Rev. James Hiles (deposed after an ecclesiastical court found him guilty of sexual misconduct), with the assistance of the Rev. Thomas Morris (not re-licensed in the diocese), have continued to lead the congregation. After the Liturgy of the Word, congregants process to their temporary home in a Seventh Day Adventist church.

During his sermon, Bishop Allison told the congregation that, although they might feel isolated in the diocese, they had a lot of sympathy and support in the worldwide Anglican Communion.

On May 13, the Plymouth County Superior Court told the congregation it could no longer use the name "St. Paul's Episcopal Church." Members have not yet decided on a new name, but it will probably include the words, "St. Paul's."

Members of at least six media organizations, including many of the local television channels, were present. The Rev. Canon Ed Rodman, spokesman for the diocese, urged fair coverage by the media.