THE Archbishop of Canterbury has described as “profoundly painful” reports concerning Canon Mike Pilavachi, the founder of Soul Survivor.
“I am deeply conscious of the impact that reports concerning Soul Survivor and Mike Pilavachi continue to have on many people,” he said in a statement on Monday evening.
“I cannot comment any further at this stage while the investigation is ongoing, but I know how profoundly painful this is. I would like to assure anyone who has been affected by this situation of my ongoing prayers. For some that will be from their direct involvement, for others this is bringing to the surface past experiences from their own lives. Please continue to support and pray for one another, as we remind each other of the love of Christ which never fails.”
Last month, Soul Survivor, a church in the diocese of St Albans, announced that Canon Pilavachi had agreed “to step back from all ministry” while safeguarding concerns were investigated (News, 6 April). Since then, newspapers have published several accounts from alleged victims and former Soul Survivor staff members (News, 5 May). These include accounts of massages and wrestling matches.
In an interview in The Sunday Times this week, David Gate, a former Soul Survivor worship leader (responsible for music) described his experience of working with Canon Pilavachi, whom he had first encountered as a 12-year-old attending the New Wine festival.
He was 16, he said, when Canon Pilavachi “singled me out and told me I was going to do amazing things for God”. He contributed two songs to a Soul Survivor album, and started to lead the singing at events. As other men have described themselves as having done, he wrestled with Canon Pilavachi, “but always fully clothed in the company of others”.
“There seemed to always be a favourite — usually athletic, always male teenagers or young men — no older than 23,” Mr Gate said. “If he’d win — and often he was a lot bigger than us — he might sit on top of you. Looking back, it must have appeared strange, a 45-year-old, well-built man wrestling on the floor with a 16-year-old boy.”
In 2012, Mr Gate moved to the United States. During a visit to Soul Survivor, Watford, in 2017, he recalled: “Mike preached that men couldn’t have relationships with other men because they have too much lust. He reasoned that women had lower sex drives, which moderated a man’s libido. It was misogynistic and homophobic.
“In the evening, we were instructed to break up into small groups of five or six to talk about sex: adults with teenagers. Most of us were strangers. There was absolutely no safeguarding. That was the final straw — I never went back.”
“There seemed to be no one who Mike was accountable to,” he said.
Mr Gate expressed concern about the investigation that is being conducted by safeguarding professionals from the Church of England’s National Safeguarding Team (NST) and the diocese of St Albans: “I have little faith in the process. The report does not have to be published. Victims are being told to report to the investigation and not speak out. . . This isn’t only about Mike Pilavachi any more. This is about the church taking accountability.”
The Archbishop’s statement was issued the day after Mr Gate’s interview was published. In it, Archbishop Welby described the investigation as “independent from Soul Survivor”. It had his “full support”, he said.
“The investigation is prioritising the wellbeing of everyone concerned, and I am confident they are treating all who are involved in the investigation and everything that has been shared with the utmost care and sensitivity. Access to counselling is available and support is being offered to all concerned. . . I encourage anyone who has information to continue to come forward.”
On Sunday, the Vicar of St John the Baptist, Beckenham, the Revd David Jones, who served as Assistant Pastor of Soul Survivor, Watford, from 2000 to 2011 wrote on Facebook that the investigation had “reignited the pain of working under Mike”. He confirmed that he had spoken to the NST: “My experience was positive, I was made to feel safe & at ease, and given the opportunity to share whatever I needed to share . . . They’ve offered me counselling which I’ve gladly accepted.” He had shared the post to “encourage others who may feel like I did to be part of change and grasp the courage to speak out”.
On Monday, the Bishop of Plymouth, the Rt Revd James Grier, wrote on Twitter that, in light of the investigation, he felt a responsibility to comment. From 2012 to 2021, he led “Unlimited Church” — a church for young people in the diocese of Exeter. He also served as the Pastoral Coordinator for the national Soul Survivor festivals and led Soul Exeter, a monthly youth celebration.
“I know Soul Survivor has been a significant part of many people’s experience & understanding of God and am concerned for all those impacted by the investigation,” he wrote. He provided contact details for helplines and advice and added: “I’m always wary of social media as a place to engage with difficult & sensitive topics. Please think carefully about the effect of your words before commenting on this.”
Last Friday, The Daily Telegraph published an interview with Paul Martin, who founded Soul Survivor USA in 2000. Mr Martin told the newspaper that he had become aware, “around 2002”, of “allegations of some sort about Mike’s relationship with young interns”. The Soul Survivor “leadership was informed”, Mr Martin said.
Around 2004, Mr Martin “again heard that [the] leadership had been made aware of concerns regarding alleged inappropriate behaviour and that the subject of massages had been raised”. He had assumed that the concerns were being addressed, he said.
A spokesman for Soul Survivor told the The Daily Telegraph: “We are assured that the ongoing investigation by the NST and the diocese of St Albans is both thorough and objective and we are aware that they have been in contact with a number of individuals as part of the process.
“In addition, we are engaging independent third-party safeguarding experts who will be providing support, as well as an extensive review of our governance and culture as a charity.
“We acknowledge the courage of all those who have already come forward and urge anyone with information they wish to share or who needs support to do so via the information on our website.”
On Thursday of last week, a pastoral letter was issued by the Bishops of the diocese of St Albans.
“Mike Pilavachi’s ministry has been extensive, and we appreciate that some of you may be feeling conflicted, upset, concerned, angry — or any number of emotions — by what you have read,” it said. “We also acknowledge that these feelings may be exacerbated since we are unable to confirm or deny any speculation or rumours in the media due to the constraints of the ongoing investigation.
“This letter to you, as clergy and lay people in this diocese, is to give assurance of our commitment to support anyone affected by this situation, particularly those who are coming forward with information. We are equally committed to the investigation, that it may be independent and fair to all parties.”
Last week, the youth ministry charity Youthscape published advice to help youth leaders to “think about how to care for themselves and others, in light of allegations made”. It said that “Mike Pilavachi’s influence is such that a significant proportion of Christians in the UK and beyond will feel some connection to the ministry of Soul Survivor.”