The Reverend E F Willis and the Society of the Holy Cross

E F Willis seems to have become caught up in a theological incident:

The Society of the Holy Cross. — As we mentioned a short time back, a difficulty had arisen in the parish of Cuddesdon, Oxon, in consequence of the vicar, the Rev. Canon Furse, principal of Cuddesdon Theological College, allowing a member of the Society of the Holy Cross, the Rev. E F. Willis, vice-principal of the college, to occupy the pulpit in the parish church. The churchwardens and principal ratepayers objected to this, and presented an address to the vicar requesting him not to allow the gentleman in question to officiate in the church on the ground that he was a member of the society mentioned. The vicar declined to accede to this request, and consequently the next time Mr. Willis entered the pulpit a large part of the congregation quitted the church. The bishop of the diocese has now interposed, and, acting upon his advice, Mr. Willis has withdrawn from the Society of the Holy Cross, and the chief ground of objection on the part of the oongregation has thus been removed. Morning Post, Saturday 22 September 1877, page 5