Archbishop of York 'regrets' that abuse scandal priest had role renewed twice

A Church of England clergyman astatine the centre of a intersexual maltreatment lawsuit was doubly reappointed to a elder relation during the Archbishop of York's clip arsenic Bishop of Chelmsford, the BBC tin reveal.

A BBC probe antecedently revealed however David Tudor remained successful station 9 years aft Stephen Cottrell was archetypal told of concerns astir him.

New accusation shows Tudor's declaration arsenic country dean successful Essex was renewed successful 2013 and 2018, astatine which times Mr Cottrell knew helium had paid compensation to a pistillate who says she was abused by him arsenic a child.

The Archbishop of York said helium regrets his handling of the case, with a spokesperson saying "he acknowledges this could person been handled differently".

They added that "all the risks astir David Tudor were regularly reviewed" and that was the "main focus".

Rachel Ford, who told the probe she was groomed by Tudor arsenic a child, said the renewal of his declaration arsenic country dean was "an insult to each of his victims".

Ms Ford added that if work for that laic with Mr Cottrell, it strengthened her feeling that helium should resign.

The unit connected Mr Cottrell comes astatine a clip of turmoil successful the Church of England pursuing a damning study into however it covered up prolific maltreatment by the barrister John Smyth.

The study led to the resignation of the Church's astir elder figure, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. Mr Cottrell volition instrumentality implicit his relation temporarily for a fewer months successful the New Year.

The BBC probe showed Mr Cottrell was briefed successful his archetypal week arsenic Bishop of Chelmsford astir superior safeguarding issues surrounding Tudor.

These included that Tudor was convicted of indecently assaulting 3 underage girls and was jailed for six months successful 1988, though the condemnation was quashed connected method grounds. Mr Cottrell would besides person known Tudor served a five-year prohibition from ministry.

By 2012, Mr Cottrell besides knew Tudor had paid a £10,000 colony to a pistillate who says she was sexually abused by him from the property of 11. In 2018, the Church of England issued an apology and a six-figure pay-out to different alleged victim.

Yet the clergyman was suspended lone successful 2019 erstwhile a constabulary probe was launched aft different pistillate came guardant alleging Tudor had abused her successful the 1980s.

When archetypal responding to the BBC's investigation, the Archbishop of York said helium was "deeply atrocious that we were not capable to instrumentality enactment earlier", insisting helium had acted astatine the archetypal accidental that was legally disposable to him.

Mr Cottrell besides said helium had been faced with a "horrible and intolerable" concern and that it was "awful to unrecorded with and to manage".

When Mr Cottrell became bishop successful 2010, Tudor was into the 2nd twelvemonth of a five-year word arsenic an country dean, a relation overseeing 12 parishes successful Essex.

His assignment to that post, nether a antithetic bishop, happened contempt him moving nether a safeguarding statement that barred him from being unsocial with children and entering schools.

The rubric was renewed doubly nether Mr Cottrell - successful 2013 and 2018 - and helium mislaid the rubric lone erstwhile the word of bureau expired successful 2020. It was not taken from him.

A spokesperson for the Archbishop said helium "accepts work for David Tudor remaining arsenic Area Dean".

"No-one advised him that David Tudor should not proceed arsenic an Area Dean," said the Archbishop's office.

Another of Tudor's victims, who does not privation to beryllium identified, said she was "shocked and disappointed" to perceive his tenure arsenic country dean was doubly renewed during Mr Cottrell's clip arsenic Bishop of Chelmsford.

"These are not the actions of a bishop dealing with a concern that was intolerable to him, successful fact, rather the opposite. I telephone connected him to bash the honourable happening for the involvement of the Church and resign," she says.

In 2015, nether Mr Cottrell, Tudor was besides made honorary canon of Chelmsford Cathedral.

The Archbishop's bureau insisted it happened due to the fact that of a alteration successful Church argumentation during Mr Cottrell's clip arsenic Bishop of Chelmsford, meaning country deans were automatically made honorary canons.

It was "not a promotion and not a idiosyncratic reward".

However, a societal media station from Tudor's Canvey Island parish successful July 2015 suggests it was seen determination arsenic a reward.

Tudor's "hard work, determination and committedness to this spot person been recognised by the diocese and this caller presumption successful the Church is precise well-deserved," it said.

The BBC has besides seen grounds - successful leaked minutes from interior Church meetings successful 2018 and 2019 - that Tudor's titles of country dean and honorary canon were discussed and determination had been a proposition Mr Cottrell could instantly person taken them away.

In October 2018, a gathering astatine Church House - the London office of the Church of England - heard that Chelmsford diocese took the presumption that if Tudor "can beryllium a parish priest, helium tin undertake the different roles".

A bishop from different diocese said "the Bishop of Chelmsford could region DT's [David Tudor's] Canon and Area Dean titles consecutive away".

But successful a follow-up treatment successful November 2018, Chelmsford diocese advised it would not beryllium due due to the fact that of "the trouble of removing those titles without explaining why."

We asked Mr Cottrell's bureau wherefore helium had not followed the proposition to region Tudor's titles. We were told "it would not beryllium due to remark connected immoderate notes oregon decisions from a halfway radical process which are confidential".

The probe besides highlighted the important relation played by erstwhile Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey successful the case.

We revealed Lord Carey had agreed to Tudor's instrumentality to priesthood aft being suspended successful 1989, and had besides agreed to person Tudor's sanction removed from the database of clergy that had faced disciplinary action. He had besides advocated for the priest.

After the BBC enactment this accusation to the erstwhile Archbishop of Canterbury, helium wrote to springiness up his "permission to officiate", ending much than 65 years of ministry successful the Church of England. Lord Carey made the announcement connected Tuesday.

In October 2024, Tudor admitted intersexual misconduct and was sacked by the Church. At nary constituent has helium responded to the BBC's attempts to talk with him.