Chaplain accused over rape comments handed new role

AN Oxford University chaplain accused of asking a rape victim if she was aware of “the effect she had on men” has been given a new job as a welfare adviser.

Rev Canon Bruce Kinsey was accused of making a rape victim feel as if she were to blame for her own sexual assault when he was head of welfare at Balliol College, Oxford, in 2021.

One female student alleged he had asked her intimate sexual questions after reporting a rape, including: “Were you a virgin?”

Rev Kinsey denied the allegations. He told The Times in 2021: “I take claims of sexual assault very seriously. I refer those reporting sexual assault to the appropriate services and would never trivialise such a report of harm.”

It is understood he left his position at the college last year after taking a sabbatical. Rev Kinsey was hired as a welfare adviser for a different college, St Edmund Hall, where he is providing support on a part-time basis.

A spokeswoman for St Edmund Hall said that Rev Kinsey had served as an interim chaplain at the college for a short time at the start of this term until its new chaplain took on her role in early February. Rev Kinsey now holds “a short-term advisory position during the transition period and, as planned, that position finishes in March at the end of term”, she added.

The allegations prompted an investigation into welfare at the college in 2021. All of its recommendations were accepted by Balliol.

The spokeswoman for St Edmund Hall said: “We would like to emphasise the college takes all student reports of misconduct by others, including sexual assault and/or harassment, extremely seriously. When a report of misconduct is received, it is dealt with through a rigorous non-academic disciplinary procedure, formulated on the basis of legal advice from a leading KC, and detailed in the college by-laws.

“In accordance with this process, when a major breach of discipline is alleged, the college arranges for an investigation by an external independent expert, followed by consideration of the evidence by a panel chaired by an independent legal practitioner. Students making reports have welfare support made available to them.”

Balliol and Rev Kinsey did respond to requests for comment.