Vicar banned over ‘inappropriate relationship’

A RETIRED vicar has been banned from practising as a priest for life after ‘inappropriate’ behaviour.

The Rev Martin Baldock, now retired, has received a ‘penalty of prohibition’ from the church as well as losing the honorary title of Canon of York.

He was found to have had a ‘close and inappropriate relationship with someone other than his wife’ as well as ‘failing to protect a vulnerable adult’.

Mr Baldock started his church career in Nailsea near Bristol after being ordained in 1985 and was later appointed Rural Dean of York from 2004 to 2012.

Following proceedings in 2019 under the Church of England’s Clergy Discipline Measure, he admitted to two counts of misconduct while in his post in York.

The Bishop of Selby, the Rt Revd Dr John Thomson said: “This is deeply upsetting news for the Parish of Dringhouses, where Mr Baldock was held in respect and affection for 17 years, and where many members of the church and community trusted him with their deepest and sometimes their most sensitive feelings and experiences.

“The Church of England expects the very highest standards of conduct from its clergy in both their personal and their professional relationships, and in this case those relationships have gone wrong.”