JONATHAN FLETCHER, who, from 1982 to 2012, was the Minister of Emmanuel Proprietary Chapel, Ridgway, in the diocese of Southwark, was subject to an “examination of the facts” hearing at Kingston upon Thames Crown Court from 5 to 11 May.

Mr Fletcher, who is aged 83, had been judged not fit to enter a plea, nor to stand trial. He faced one charge of Section 18 grievous bodily harm with intent, and eight counts of indecent assault of an adult male, representing at least 16 separate allegations.

The grievous bodily harm charge was dropped ahead of the examination of the facts by the jury, which found that Mr Fletcher had committed the remaining acts over a period of more than 20 years.

“In these circumstances, the only suitable outcome that the judge could impose was an absolute discharge for each count,” the diocese of Southwark said in a statement. “However, Her Honour Judge Plaschkes KC was clear that it is important for victims of sexual abuse to be heard and that the jury had considered the evidence and concluded that Mr Fletcher had indecently assaulted the victim without their consent.”

The Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, said: “Our safeguarding team has worked to support the survivor in this case and will continue to offer support to them. I would like to pay tribute to the survivor’s courage and strength in sharing their experiences and I acknowledge that this process has been very costly for them. While it cannot undo the pain of the past, we hope that this ruling will give them some comfort and enable them to move forward.

“We will continue to make safeguarding our highest priority, seeking to learn the lessons of the past and ensure that survivors’ voices and concerns inform our safeguarding practice.”

Mr Fletcher retired as Minister of the proprietary chapel in Wimbledon in 2012 and has not held permission to officiate in the diocese of Southwark since 2017. He is not authorised to minister in the Church of England.

Mr Fletcher was seen as influential in the wider constituency of conservative Evangelicalism, which included Iwerne camps, the Proclamation Trust, ReNew, the Church Society, and GAFCON (News, 11 July, 2024).