Rev Hough steps down as chaplain
REV Wendy Hough said yesterday it had been “a great honour to serve” St Andrew’s Church, days after resigning as chaplain.
Archdeacon John Holdsworth announced on Sunday that Ms Hough — who had been chaplain at the Girne church for four years — had stepped down with “immediate effect”.
The announcement follows a series of questions raised about the church’s accounting and administration procedures, starting with a wedding file that went missing from the vestry in December, as reported by Cyprus Today in March.
An investigation by the Anglican Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf into the administration of weddings at the church was last week said to have revealed “a catalogue of errors”, but “no question about the validity of any wedding conducted”.
Ms Hough told Cyprus Today she had “loved being the chaplain”.
“I have met many amazing people, shared in lots of sadness, sorrows and challenging, as well as
enriching times with people here. In many ways I am sad to leave, of course, but life is always a series of beginnings and endings and so it is now for me and for St Andrew’s Church.
“I do . . . continue to pray for all at church, but in particular for those who have felt the need to express such disparaging comments about me. I need to step back from that, and give the church freedom to move forward.”
Although a three-month notice period is specified in the Cyprus Clergy Contract, she said would “not be participating in services or pastoral ministry” during her notice as she had been advised to take three months’ sick leave.
She added that she planned to stay on the island for “various projects, on which I have long wanted more time to focus”.
Mr Holdsworth said: “We want to arrange her departure in an ordered and decent manner; one that pays proper tribute to the positive work she has done.”
He added that “a variety of people” from the retired community would cover church services on a short-term rota basis, while he would meet the Church Council next week to consider Ms Hough’s successor.
Mr Holdsworth said in Sunday’s statement: “We are deeply disappointed that the administration of these important events in the lives of the couples and their families, has not been treated with appropriate pastoral care, and regret that the high standards we expect and demand from our clergy have not been met in these cases.
“It is unfortunate that accounts could not be produced for the Annual Chaplaincy Meeting, since this undoubtedly added to the general atmosphere of disquiet that has clouded the church.”
He said inconsistencies between money received for weddings and balances was due to assistants covering for treasurer Shane Barnes last year — during his absence for major surgery — “using a new software system to make payments”.
“It has taken some time to ascertain that the correct codes were added to each payment.”
The finalised accounts had been passed to an independent financial examiner for scrutiny and would be presented to the Church Council, he said, adding an extraordinary council meeting was possible by the end of the month. He called on the St Andrew’s community to “remember Wendy in your prayers” and “pray also for your wardens” to be able to face the “next few challenging months”.