A huge controversy has broken out in Wales, once home to a huge revival, following the news that a clergyman has burned pages from the Bible and cut up pages from the King James Bible which he says reveals a "cruel and vile God".
The actions of the Rev Geraint ap Iorwerth, rector of St Peter ad Vincula Church, Pennal, Gwynedd, who conducted the burning of some pages of the Bible is now being investigated by the Church in Wales, which is part of the Anglican Communion.
Unveiling his "artwork" at a recent church event, the Welsh clergyman said it revealed a "cruel and vile God".
The Bishop of Bangor, Andy John, said destroying the Bible, or passages from it, would cause offence to many.
He said: "I have therefore written to the Rev Geraint ap Iorwerth and will be investigating the matter further.
"There are parts of the Bible that we struggle to understand today because culturally our life is so far removed from that period in which the Bible was written.
"However, it is not given to us to pick and choose - sometimes the most challenging parts are those which we need to wrestle with most of all."
Mr ap Iorwerth told BBC Wales that he had burnt scraps of cut up the passages at the public event because he had been making a statement as part of an art experiment.
He said he had had "nothing but support" from people at the historic church near Machynlleth, close to the Gwynedd-Powys border.
The Welsh clergyman revealed his controversial piece of art at an event to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible.
He said: "I find it highly offensive that people would think I have given my life to serving that type of God and that I would regard the words of the King James Bible as sacred truth.
"I cut out all the nasty bits of that Bible, the language of which is being celebrated all over the place this year, because I don't think you can separate that language from the God it is representing.
