"I'm trying to help you, to keep you."

Friday 1 April 2005 Guardian

Strangeways here we come

On April 1 1990 a riot in Manchester triggered a wave of protests in prisons across Britain.

Strangeways prison rooftop protest, 1990. Photograph: Denis Thorpe

On April Fools' Day, 15 years ago, 300 prisoners filed into the chapel at Strangeways prison, Manchester, to attend the Church of England service. They heard a sermon from a visiting Church Army preacher, and at 11am, the prison's chaplain, Noel Proctor, rose to continue the service.

What happened next was tape recorded, along with the sermon. The transcript of the tape reads thus:

Noel Proctor: "After that remarkable message that has ..."

A prisoner (later identified as Paul Taylor): "I would just like to say, right, that this man has just talked about the blessing of the heart and how a hardened heart can be delivered. No it cannot, not with resentment, anger and bitterness and hatred being instilled in people."

(noise, over which) A prisoner: "Fuck your system, fuck your rules."

Proctor: "Right lads, sit down."

(More noise)

Proctor: "Right lads, down. Down. Come on, this is no way to carry on in God's house."

(More noise)

A prisoner: "Fuck your system."

Proctor: "Right lads, sit down. This is completely out of order. Sit down."

A prisoner: "Why is it [out of order]? It's been waiting to happen forever. It will never change."

Proctor: "Come on. This is terrible."

(More noise; banging, shouting, cheering)

Proctor: "All of you who want to go back to your cells, go to the back of the church please."

A prisoner: "What? You're a fucking hypocrite, you."

Proctor: "I'm trying to help you, to keep you."

A prisoner: "Leave it, mate."

(More noise until microphone goes dead)

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