From the Hull Daily Mail, issue dated Tuesday 23rd November 1897:
Bees in church. – On Sunday evening the congregation of the parish church at Bishopstrow, Wiltshire, were startled by the appearance of a number of bees. By the time the Psalms were reached, the building reminded one of “swarming time.” The Vicar [George Atwood] struggled bravely until the sermon, when the bees stung the reverend gentleman so badly that he was forced to beat a hasty retreat from the pulpit and leave his flock without a sermon. The churchwardens too were singled out for the bees’ attention, and about 20 of the congregation were also stung. In the end the irreligious bees carried the day, and the service to abrupt termination.