Southwark Diocese Tribunal Upholds New Complaint Against Disgraced Priest
In a significant development, a tribunal within the Southwark Diocese has validated a fresh complaint against former priest David Tudor. Known for his past roles as a rector in both the Diocese of Chelmsford and the Diocese of Southwark, Tudor was previously barred from ministry for life following his confession to sexual abuse allegations made by two women last year.
The recent tribunal, separate from the previous proceedings, addressed new allegations that Tudor sexually abused a 15-year-old girl during his tenure as a priest in the Diocese of Southwark in the 1980s.
The Bishop of Chelmsford, Dr. Guli Francis-Dehqani, commented on the tribunal’s findings, expressing gratitude and empathy: “I want to thank sincerely the woman who brought this complaint, and to say how grateful I was to be able to meet with her earlier this year. She has shown great courage in coming forward to report David Tudor’s abuse and I am profoundly sorry for the harm he has caused her and the other survivors of the abuse he perpetrated.”
Tudor’s lifetime ban from ministry was initially enforced by the Church of England in October 2024, following the upholding of complaints from two other women. These complaints also pertained to his time serving in the Diocese of Southwark, during which Tudor confessed to committing serious sexual abuses against two teenage girls.
In response to these events, the National Safeguarding Team (NST), in collaboration with the dioceses of Southwark and Chelmsford, initiated the David Tudor Safeguarding Practice Review. Originally set to conclude within six months, the review’s deadline has been extended due to “new police information,” with completion now expected in early 2026.
Support is available for those affected by these developments through the Safe Spaces helpline at 0300 303 1056, via the Safe Spaces Website, or by contacting the National Safeguarding Team at safeguarding@churchofengland.org.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
