THE Assistant Curate of Loddon Reach, Reading, the Revd Peter
Jarvis, has been charged with 12 sexual offences against two
teenage girls and two teenage boys. He has denied eight counts of
inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, three counts of
sexual activity with a child, and one count of attempting to cause
or incite a child to engage in sexual activity.
The case is being heard at Reading Crown Court. He was suspended
in May last year, as soon as he was arrested (News, 31 May).
Other cases. The Bishop of St Albans, Dr Alan
Smith, has imposed the maximum penalty in his power on the Vicar of
St Francis's, Luton, the Revd James Ogley. He has been removed from
office and prohibited from exercising any ministry as a priest in
the Church of England for the rest of his life. He was sentenced to
two years' imprisonment last month after admitting asking children
on an internet chat blog to assault other children sexually (News, 3
October).
The Assistant Curate of St Giles with Butterton, Newcastle under
Lyme, the Revd Stephen Vincent, was removed from office in
September and prohibited from exercising Holy Orders for eight
years. A disciplinary tribunal heard that he admitted sending
explicit text messages and committing adultery. A spokesman for the
diocese of Lichfield said: "As Mr Vincent said himself, he has
betrayed his wife, his family, and his church. We continue to offer
every support to the Vincent family and the parish of St Giles in
this difficult time, and hold them all in our prayers."
A priest, the Revd David Davies, has been charged with
assaulting a woman, and driving while over the legal alcohol limit.
The incidents are alleged to have happened on 4 November, two
months after Mr Davies was suspended as Priest-in-Charge of
Cockington and Torre, on the edge of Torquay, in Devon. Mr Davies
was appointed to the parishes in October last year. He has been a
priest for 24 years, and spent many of them in Army chaplaincy.
In a statement, the Acting Archdeacon of Totnes, the Ven. Clive
Cohen, said: "The [Exeter] diocese has been working to support him
and his family pastorally and practically throughout this period.
We were very grieved when the police informed us of the charges
against him."
Mr Davies was listed to appear at Torquay magistrates court last
week, on charges of driving in a public place while over the limit,
and assault by beating. He was excused from appearing in person,
however, after his lawyer, Alan Parsons, handed a letter to the
district judge. Its contents were not read out. He gave the
priest's address as care of the Bishop's Palace, Exeter.
Mr Davies, who has yet to enter a plea to the charges, was
bailed to reappear on 8 December.