Reverend is suspended over ‘voyeurism’ arrest
A MARRIED senior Church of England clergyman has been arrested for alleged voyeurism, it was revealed yesterday.
The Very Reverend Martin Thrower has been suspended from his religious duties by his diocese after being questioned by police over an alleged incident at a shopping centre.
The leading charity worker was held overnight in police cells and released on bail without charge, pending further enquiries.
Father-of-three Mr Thrower, 55, who is Rural Dean of Hadleigh, Suffolk, and also Rector of the 13th-century St Mary’s Church, declined to comment yesterday.
But his wife Pauline, 56, said: “It is with great sadness that we find ourselves in the situation we are now in.
“Whilst this has come as a shock to us as a family we are all supporting Martin with unconditional love at this difficult time.”
Suffolk Police confirmed the arrest of a 55-year-old man on suspicion of voyeurism in the Buttermarket shopping centre in Ipswich on August 4.
A spokesman said: “He was bailed on August 5 to return to police on October 19 while enquires are carried out.”
John Howard, spokesman for the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, said: “I can confirm that The Very Rev Martin Thrower, Rector of Hadleigh, Layham and Shelley, and also Rural Dean of Hadleigh, has been arrested on suspicion of voyeurism.
“He has been suspended from all offices within the diocese until further notice.”
Mr Thrower was at the centre of controversy in 2013 when he proposed stripping historic St Mary’s church of the majority of its 77 Victorian pews to create a more flexible space for music, drama and exhibitions.
The Victorian Society objected to the proposal saying that the ornate pews, which dated back to 1870 and were decorated with carvings of local flowers, were “beautiful and historically significant”.
But most of the pews were taken out after approval was given, leaving only 20 to be restored and put in the church’s Lady Chapel.
Mr Thrower said at the time: “Churches weren’t built with pews in – they were built to be the community space, to have the market in and host big meetings and we have an aspiration to return the building to being the true parish church.”
Mr Thrower is founder of the town’s Porch Project charity which aims to support young people aged 11 to 20 in Hadleigh by giving them space inside St Mary’s to use as a drop-in centre and cafe.
Support services are available for troubled youngsters and there are computer facilities.