A DISCIPLINARY process founded on “false allegations, rumour and assumptions” against a curate in the diocese of Coventry has been dismissed by the tribunal that heard the complaint.
The Revd Anne-Marie Marsh was accused of engaging in an “inappropriate relationship” with a man, Graham Slate, for whom it was claimed that she had had a pastoral responsibility during her curacy.
In a judgment published on 24 July, a five-person panel cleared Ms Marsh and criticised the basis on which the case was brought. The tribunal also criticised the diocese and the Vicar of St John the Baptist, Hillmorton, the Revd Steve Gold, who was Ms Marsh’s training incumbent.
Mr Gold had made several late-night and early-morning visits to Ms Marsh’s home in mid-December 2023, to photograph Mr Slate’s van parked there overnight. This was then presented as evidence of an inappropriate relationship.
Ms Marsh, however, said that she had asked Mr Slate to park there to deter her estranged husband, Craig Marsh, from visiting her house, taking photos, and peering through the windows — behaviour which she had found frightening.
“We were concerned that in evidence Mr Gold adamantly maintained the appropriateness of his decision to attend at the respondent’s home very late at night and very early in the morning to take photographs at a time when he knew the respondent was fearful of Mr Marsh, who was acting in a very similar way,” the tribunal said.
Mr Gold, the tribunal said, “demonstrated a worrying willingness to believe the worst” of his curate, and had accepted “without question” the allegations made by Mr Marsh. He was also criticised for not speaking to Ms Marsh herself about the accusations
The tribunal was told that Mr Marsh had been “emotionally and physically abusive” to Ms Marsh during their marriage, and that Mr Gold was aware of these allegations, as well as her fears about Mr Marsh’s turning up at her home after dark.
The tribunal found evidence that Mr Gold had a “difficult relationship” with Ms Marsh “for much of her time under his direction”, and that, “at best”, she had received “inadequate support and guidance” from him.
After the breakdown of Ms Marsh’s marriage, the diocese agreed, in mid-November 2023, to move Mr Marsh to a vacant vicarage in the diocese, despite the allegations of abuse which had been made against him.
This decision was highlighted in a postscript “expressing concern” that, in the course of the bringing of the case against Ms Marsh, “false allegations, rumours and assumptions have been blindly accepted to create a situation where significant harm has been caused.”
When allegations were brought against Ms Marsh, “steps were not discernibly taken to safeguard her wellbeing given her manifest vulnerability at that time and instead she has stood back, voluntarily, from ministry for around 18 months”, the tribunal said, as it dismissed the complaints against her.
“We trust lessons will be learned and that the support that the respondent should have received from the Diocese of Coventry will now be provided to her in order to support her flourishing in her future ministry.”
On Monday, a spokesperson for the diocese of Coventry said that it fully accepted the decision of the tribunal, and it was “grateful for the clarity that this had brought to a very difficult situation”.
“The well-being of all those concerned is our priority at this time,” the spokesperson continued. “We are in contact with those involved and they have our full support and prayers. The diocese acknowledges that there are learning points and is reflecting on how best to address these going forward.”
The new Bishop of Coventry, the Rt Revd Sophie Jelley, would be meeting Ms Marsh “to discuss her future ministry”, the spokesperson said.