Statement on BBC File on Four programme – David Tudor

The appalling abuse committed by former Church of England rector David Tudor, highlighted in today’s BBC File on Four documentary, is a grievous breach of trust and we commend the courage of those survivors who came forward aware of the retraumatising affects this has had on their lives.

The BBC Programme reveals a catalogue of past safeguarding decisions, that allowed someone who was considered a risk in the 1980s to return to ministry in the 1990s. This should never have happened.

David Tudor who has most recently served in the diocese of Chelmsford, was suspended by the former Bishop of Chelmsford in 2019 following new information, and was prohibited from ministry for life by a Bishops Disciplinary Tribunal in October. The prohibition followed a full admission of guilt to disclosures of serious sexual abuse that were brought as a disciplinary complaint, relating to the time when he was a priest in the Diocese of Southwark and includes serious sexual abuse involving a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old.

Safeguarding decisions and all appointments today are subject to very clear guidance issued by the House of Bishops, which was not in place at the 1990s. It is currently being strengthened further. This involves a clear process, both around safer recruitment and in assessing risk, even when no further action is taken by statutory services, to ensure the Church is a safe place for all.

The current Bishops of Chelmsford and Southwark have apologised for the hurt and harm caused by his offences and an independent Safeguarding Practice Review will now take place to ensure lessons are learnt from this case.

Support continues to be offered to the survivors and those affected by this case.

The Tribunal’s Judgement can be read in full on the Church of England Website.

Statement from Diocese of Chelmsford

Statement from Diocese of Southwark

Statement from the Archbishop of York

The situation I faced when I became Bishop of Chelmsford, was horrible and intolerable – most of all for the survivors and victims who had bravely come forward and shared their stories from the 1980s.

This morning’s news coverage incorrectly implies that no action was taken until 2024. That is not the case. In my capacity as Bishop of Chelmsford, I suspended David Tudor from office at the first opportunity, when a new victim came forward to the police in 2019.  Up until 2019, there were no legal grounds to take alternative action.

When I joined the Chelmsford diocese in 2010, I worked closely with its very professional safeguarding team to ensure the risk was managed.  But it was not possible to remove David Tudor from office until such time as fresh complaints were made, which happened when a victim bravely spoke to the police.  Once this happened in 2019, I acted immediately. I suspended David Tudor from all ministry pending the investigation and subsequent tribunal hearing in which he was removed from office and prohibited from ministry for life.

I am deeply sorry that we were not able to take action earlier, but that was the situation I inherited. It is extremely disappointing that this story is being reported as if it was an abuser being ignored or even protected. Actually, nothing could be further from the truth. And to present it this way only re-traumatises already hurt people. The situation with David Tudor was an awful situation to live with and to manage and has meant many people suffering as a result. I want victims and survivors to know that everything was done to understand, assess and manage the risk. I also want them to know that I fully welcome the outcome of the Tribunal in October 2024.

Following David Tudor’s five years of suspension from ministry in 1988, the process at that time did not prevent him from returning to ministry in the Diocese of Southwark in 1994. Changes to the way safeguarding is now managed and scrutinised would mean the decision taken in 1988 would not take place now. But it did then.

The Church of England now needs independent scrutiny of safeguarding so that those who do have understandable frustrations and concerns can have their voices heard and those of us who have responsibility for managing these situations can be helped to avoid them and resolve them. I have publicly supported this for many years. I pledge myself to do what I can to achieve it.

Stephen Cottrell
Archbishop of York