The Oxfordshire priest who rose to national prominence when he sew his mouth shut in a protest outside the offices of News Corp, has revealed why he did it in an exclusive interview with the Oxford Mail.

The Rev Tim Hewes, a retired dentist and a part-time priest, was photographed outside the London base of News Corporation, holding a sign that read ‘Murdoch – the most destructive man in the history of the planet?’ with the hope to provoke discussion around media coverage on the climate emergency humanity is facing.

The idea for the protest with Christian Climate Action, an arm of Extinction Rebellion, came nearly six months ago and the 71-year-old felt he was in a unique position to do it as he is a retired dentist.

In the days after, alongside praise for his act, Mr Hewes has also endured criticism from local members of his Christian community telling him he should focus on religion instead, and even his own family.

He said: “I thought very carefully about it and about the physical and emotional consequences.

“As law abiding citizens, there is little that we can do to draw the attention of our leaders to the catastrophe that is unfolding day by day like raging fires and floods.

“Our government is so good at making great promises – they get the gold medal for that – but when it comes down to action, it is the wooden spoon.

“They are still planning to open a new gas oil development in Shetland and still considering the coal mine in Cumbria.

“Without government lead, it is hopeless.”

Mr Hewes is not a novice in protesting – in fact, in March he was jailed for 14 days for gluing himself to furniture at the City of London Magistrates’ Court.

He admitted that the climate emergency has also affected his faith and he has failed in providing answers to his parishioners.

He explained: “The last time I preached in church, I described it as fingertip faith – I am clinging on and I am not afraid to admit that.

“I think that applies to a lot of clergy.

“I find the way God works in this situation very confusing and I do not have a lot of answers for the parishioners.

“But I can walk the walk with people who feel grief for the planet.”