Archbishops apologise to abuse survivors after BBC investigation into pay-out for Church canon

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have apologised to abuse survivors who feel “let down by the Church” after a BBC investigation right into a pay-out to a cathedral canon who was reportedly assessed as a possible risk to children. 

The BBC reports that Canon Andrew Hindley was the topic of 5 police investigations, including into allegations of sexual assault, during his three a long time with the Diocese of Blackburn from 1991 to 2021.

The BBC alleges that the diocese attempted several times to repay the canon and even had a plan in place, backed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, to shut Blackburn Cathedral if the priest returned to work after a suspension. 

The canon eventually left in 2022 after reportedly being offered an undisclosed sum, which the Church of England said was to settle legal motion brought by the priest over his forced retirement. 

The Archbishops said in a press release that the case showed that the Church of England “must learn from the mistakes of the past”.

“We are truly sorry when survivors are let down by the Church. We were each made aware of this case, including the concerning background and the challenges attributable to statutory and Church processes ending with no further motion,” they said.

“We absolutely consider that there is no such thing as a place in ministry for people who find themselves a risk or pose a risk to others and proceed to work to make sure that our systems are made ever stronger and more robust.

“This case highlights the complexity of our structures and processes and is only one example of why we asked Professor Alexis Jay, the previous chair of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, to supply options and proposals for a way further independence of safeguarding throughout the Church of England is likely to be achieved. This work is now being taken forward.

“As the Bishop of Blackburn told the BBC, the Church has made huge strides in safeguarding prior to now 10 years particularly in listening to the voices of survivors and victims. However, this case, which matches back a few years, shows that we’re still working to get our processes right and we must learn from the mistakes of the past.”

The Church of England said in a separate statement that the case was “complicated and really difficult for everybody involved particularly those that got here forward”.

“A lot of allegations were made concerning the Canon over a lot of years and a risk assessment was conducted based on the House of Bishops 2017 safeguarding guidance,” it said.

“In the event, not one of the allegations resulted either in a conviction within the criminal courts, or in a determination of misconduct within the independent Church courts through the Clergy Discipline Measure.

“He was faraway from office on health grounds by the previous Bishop of Blackburn, in 2021, under the Church Dignitaries (Retirement) Measure 1949 , however the Canon then brought a claim within the High Court for judicial review of that call and payment was made in settlement of that claim.

“The Church of England is currently reviewing the disciplinary procedure for members of clergy (Clergy Discipline Measure), as really useful by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, IICSA and a review of the chance assessment regulations and guidance is under way.”