Organist pulls out the stops in legal fight with bishop
A BISHOP accused of bullying by up to 100 church workers is facing legal action from a cathedral organist she claimed threatened her with violence.
The Rt Rev Anne Dyer, 64 – Scotland’s first woman in the role – said she had to lock herself in a vestry after telling Christopher Cromar his services were no longer needed. She alleged: ‘Cromar’s intimidating and threatening manner to me at communion was unforgivable. He has made written threats to me.’
But two church inquiries found no evidence to support her claim. Mr Cromar – director of music at St. Andrew’s in Aberdeen – may now sue for harm to his career and defamation. He told Scottish Episcopal Church primus the Most Rev Mark Strange: ‘On the advice of counsel, I am writing to request, respectfully, that you instruct Anne Dyer to substantiate her claim that I threatened her physically. I am looking forward to the church making a just resolution with me so I can start rebuilding my life after a year of immense trauma.’
Around 100 church staff have given evidence against Ms Dyer, who will retire next year after four years as bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney. Almost all said they were ‘afraid of retaliation in some form or another’, an internal report revealed. Mr Strange, Bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness, said he supported ‘healing and reconciliation’ but added: ‘I deeply regret that such a confidential report has now been leaked.’