(Image: submitted)
A FORMER Ilkley curate has locked down his social media account after becoming embroiled in an online dispute over the Duchess of Sussex's luxury advent calendar.
Father Chris Phillips, who served as curate at St Margaret's Church in Ilkley before moving to London in 2016, became the focus of criticism from supporters of Meghan Markle after backing comments made by a fellow priest.
The row began when the Rev Daniel French, an Anglican priest and chaplain at the University of London, encouraged people to buy a Christian-themed advent calendar costing £5.99 rather than Meghan's new £112 festive offering.
Posting on X, formerly Twitter, Rev French wrote: "For £5.99 you can pre-order a Christian Advent Calendar with Fairtrade chocolate from the Meaningful Chocolate Company. A donation is made to The Leprosy Mission."
Fr Phillips publicly supported the comments, prompting a backlash from members of the so-called "Sussex Squad", a vocal online community of supporters of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Critics accused the two clergymen of unfairly targeting Meghan. One social media user wrote to Fr Phillips: "Why are you joining in and trolling a woman for selling an advent calendar? You must be a shining example of Christianity to your parishioners."
Another said: "Both the Reverend Daniel French and Father Chris Phillips are sorry excuses for Christianity."
A third added: "What an evil way of trying to garner Christmas support. God sees you."
Responding to one person who accused him of trying to promote his own church's advent calendar Fr Phillips responded: "Not my church's advent calender. Simply contrasting the extravagance of spending that much on one with an affordable alternative which actually reminds the recipient of the true meaning of Christmas."
Rev French also received criticism, with some commentators describing him as "evil" and the "spawn of Satan" for promoting the alternative calendar.
Following the exchanges, both priests made their X accounts private, meaning only existing followers can view and interact with their posts.
Fr Phillips was ordained while serving at St Margaret's Church in Ilkley and spent three years there as curate before accepting his first London posting.
Speaking at the time of his departure, he said leaving Yorkshire would be "a big wrench", adding: "Naturally, it will be a big wrench to leave St Margaret's wonderful parishioners and the many other warm, friendly people in a part of Yorkshire in which the Phillips family have been very happy."
The controversy centres on Meghan's newly launched As Ever advent calendar, a limited-edition product priced at 148 dollars, around £112.
The Duchess of Sussex . The Duchess has launched a luxury advent calendar, inspired by her Montecito mansion (Image: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)
According to promotional material, the calendar contains 24 handcrafted chocolates inspired by Meghan's Montecito home and garden in California. The chocolates feature flavours based on fruit preserves sold by her As Ever lifestyle brand, including strawberry, raspberry, blackberry and orange marmalade.
Each chocolate is finished with a countdown number handwritten in Meghan's own style and painted in edible gold lustre.
The calendar was created in partnership with Los Angeles chocolatier Compartes and is currently available only within the United States.
The alternative calendar promoted by Rev French is produced by the Meaningful Chocolate Company and contains 25 Fairtrade chocolates alongside a 24-page Christian activity book, with a donation from sales made to The Leprosy Mission.