Vicar's family 'forced out of area'

Unite has called for probe into claims that a vicar suffered an 'intimidation' campaign
12 April 2012

A union has called for an investigation into claims that a vicar and his family had suffered a campaign of "intimidation" from parishioners which had forced them to leave the area.

Unite said the Rev Mark Sharpe was retiring on grounds of ill-health at the age of 40 after he was allegedly subjected to abuse, including having his car tyres slashed, phone line cut and pet dog poisoned.

Rev Sharpe, his wife Sara and four children will leave their house in Hanley Broadheath, near Worcester, and move to an undisclosed part of the UK.

The union has lodged a claim for constructive dismissal at an employment tribunal and accused local bishops of "washing their hands" of the case.

National officer Rachael Maskell said: "Unite would like the Archbishop of Canterbury to order an investigation into the events surrounding Mark and his family.

"The fact that Mark and his family have been forced to leave their home during the so-called season of goodwill at the pinnacle of the Christian year is a disgrace, and a dark stain on the church's reputation.

"This is a toxic parish with a 40-year history of clergy leaving abruptly or in broken health. The bishops knew the history involved and failed to exercise their duty of care in the legal or moral respects. They have failed both as employers and Christians. The Church of England needs to introduce the full range of employment rights for its entire clergy."

Rev Sharpe said: "My career has been ruined, my health and that of my wife and children has been shattered, and my family has suffered terribly from all the strain.

"When we came here in 2005, I was told by the church that they were looking for stability, as the last vicar had left after 18 months for health reasons. I found a situation that was allowed to fester for decades, where of the four parishes only three were legally constituted. The treasurer and parochial church council were not legal entities.

"These admin and financial problems were all eventually sorted out, but this seemed to spark a wave of resentment from the community which has culminated in my family and I living in a climate of fear in a supposedly rural idyll. There have been too many incidences of harassment over the last four years for them to be the odd coincidence."

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