Episcopal priest leaves for Druids

The former Downingtown rector said it was "a joyous occasion."
By Kristin E. Holmes, Inquirer Staff Writer

An Episcopal priest who resigned from a Downingtown church last fall after his ties to a Druid society were made public has renounced his Episcopal ordination and become a Druid priest.

W. William Melnyk, former rector of St. James' Episcopal Church, has formed the Llynhydd Grove of the Druid Order of the Yew, which he is leading under his Druid name, OakWyse.

In a phone interview yesterday, Melnyk called his move "a joyous occasion."

The involvement of Melnyk and his wife, the Rev. Glyn Ruppe-Melnyk - also an Episcopal priest - in New Age activities came to light in October, when two Druidic liturgies attributed to them were posted on the Episcopal Church's national Web site as a model of feminist liturgies.

Conservative groups and Internet bloggers accused the church of supporting paganism. The church denied the accusations but removed the liturgies from the Web site.

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