A DISCIPLINARY process founded on “false allegations, rumour and assumptions” against a curate within the diocese of Coventry has been dismissed by the tribunal that heard the grievance.
The Revd Anne-Marie Ghosh, who has reverted to her maiden name, was accused of engaging in an “inappropriate relationship” with a person, 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 Ghosh (referred to by her married name of Marsh) and criticised the idea 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 Ghosh’s training incumbent.
Mr Gold had made several late-night and early-morning visits to Ms Ghosh’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 Ghosh, nevertheless, said that she had asked Mr Slate to park there to discourage 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 on the respondent’s home very late at night and really early within the morning to take photographs at a time when he knew the respondent was petrified of Mr Marsh, who was acting in a really similar way,” the tribunal said.
Mr Gold, the tribunal said, “demonstrated a worrying willingness to consider the worst” of his curate, and had accepted “without query” the allegations made by Mr Marsh. He was also criticised for not talking to Ms Ghosh herself concerning the accusations
The tribunal was told that Mr Marsh had been “emotionally and physically abusive” to Ms Ghosh during their marriage, and that Mr Gold was aware of those allegations, in addition to 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 Ghosh “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 Ghosh’s marriage, the diocese agreed, in mid-November 2023, to maneuver Mr Marsh to a vacant vicarage within 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 middle of the bringing of the case against Ms Ghosh, “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 Ghosh, “steps weren’t discernibly taken to safeguard her wellbeing given her manifest vulnerability at the moment and as an alternative she has stood back, voluntarily, from ministry for around 18 months”, the tribunal said, because it dismissed the complaints against her.
“We trust lessons will probably be learned and that the support that the respondent must have received from the Diocese of Coventry will now be provided to her so as to support her flourishing in her future ministry.”
On Monday, a spokesperson for the diocese of Coventry said that it fully accepted the choice of the tribunal, and it was “grateful for the clarity that this had delivered to a really difficult situation”.
“The well-being of all those concerned is our priority right now,” the spokesperson continued. “We are in touch with those involved and so they have our full support and prayers. The diocese acknowledges that there are learning points and is reflecting on how best to deal with these going forward.”
The latest Bishop of Coventry, the Rt Revd Sophie Jelley, could be meeting Ms Ghosh “to debate her future ministry”, the spokesperson said.
