Gloucestershire Cathedral found itself in a row over the apparent 'evils' of zero-hours contracts, thanks to a speech by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Most Rev Justin Welby told the TUC conference "the gig economy, zero-hours contracts, is simply the reincarnation of an ancient evil".

Which might have come as a shock to those employed by or seeking a job at Gloucester Cathedral - just one of the Cathedrals advertising jobs with such contracts on its website.

And then there were the comments about Amazon. The on-line market place megalith was "paying almost nothing in tax" said the Archbishop.

"When vast companies like Amazon and other online traders, the new industries, can get away with paying almost nothing in tax, there is something wrong with the tax system.

"They don't pay a real living wage, so the taxpayer must support their workers with benefits.

"And having leeched off the taxpayer once they don't pay for our defence, for security, for stability, for justice, health, equality, education."

Aside from the Church itself using such contracts as part of its business it also turned out it is a major investor in Amazon.

Its 2017 annual report from the Church Commissioners shows Amazon Inc to be one of the Church's top 20 global equity investments.

All which left the Archbishop facing accusations of hypocrisy from some quarters.

Gloucester Cathedral is just one of a number of Cathedrals highlighted as advertising roles with zero-hours contracts or employing people on such terms. Gloucester's website is advertising for a porter on a zero-hours contract.

A spokesperson for the Cathedral said: "Gloucester Cathedral sometimes uses zero-hour contracts to employ people in specific, limited cases to carry out occasional tasks, for example helping to set up for events.

"We take our responsibilities as an employer seriously and are committed to paying the living wage and any person employed on a zero hours contract at Gloucester Cathedral is entitled to statutory employment rights."

The Daily Telegraph was just one of the news outlets which covered the story. A spokesman for the Diocese of London told told it: "We agree with the Archbishop that zero-hours contracts can be abused to exploit workers.

"Our guidance to parishes, which has been designed in line with Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development guidance, makes it clear that a zero hours contract may be appropriate when the work is ad-hoc or casual.

"The guidance stipulates that both parties should have the ability to reject work and that individuals should be able to work elsewhere."

The Church of England told the BBC advice to its parishes on zero-hours contracts was issued in 2013, and "does not reflect the current thinking" of the Church.

According to the Government's own website "zero hour contracts are also known as casual contracts. Zero hour contracts are usually for 'piece work' or 'on call' work, eg interpreters.

"This means they are on call to work when you need them, you don't have to give them work and they don't have to do work when asked.

"Zero hour workers are entitled to statutory annual leave and the National Minimum Wage in the same way as regular workers.

"You can't do anything to stop a zero hours worker from getting work elsewhere. The law says they can ignore a clause in their contract if it bans them from looking for work, accepting work from another employer and employers are still responsible for health and safety of staff on zero hour contracts."