Church of England in new abuse controversy
Senior evangelical preacher could face criminal inquiry after claims by five men
ONE of the Church of England’s leading evangelical figures could face a criminal inquiry after men who claim they were abused by him revealed to The Daily Telegraph how they endured naked ice baths, beatings and “massages”.
The Rev Jonathan Fletcher, 77, is today also accused by five alleged victims of subjecting them over several years to bullying and intimidation, and sexually inappropriate comments and questions about masturbation.
Some are seeking legal advice to explore grounds for a criminal investigation amid claims Mr Fletcher abused his power. It is the same charge faced by Peter Ball, the late disgraced bishop and friend of the Prince of Wales who was jailed in 2015 for sexually abusing 18 young men over three decades.
Mr Fletcher was vicar of Emmanuel Church in Wimbledon, south-west London, from 1982 until his retirement in 2012. In June The Telegraph revealed he was banned from preaching by the Bishop of Southwark in 2017 over allegations that he had “spiritually abused” vulnerable adults at his church.
Despite being stripped of his Church powers, the former vicar flouted the ban and toured the UK, Europe and New Zealand giving talks.
Mr Fletcher has admitted subjecting a prayer group to naked beatings as “light-hearted forfeits” if they failed to maintain “healthy and holy living”.
However, the alleged victims – all men who wish to remain anonymous – are revealing what they say is the true extent of the abuse.
All alleged victims said that despite reporting their concerns to Emmanuel Church they were neither taken seriously nor acted upon. The five men described their former vicar as “charming” and “magnetic”.
Yet they also believe he was “manipulative and controlling” and sat “as judge, jury and executioner on whether you were fit for ministry” – a combination of characteristics that resulted in, they allege, an abuse of his power.
One of the men said: “We desperately want the truth to be told. We want the truth to come out so that victims can feel free to tell their story as well.”
Another alleged victim said last night: “There should be a criminal investigation into not only [his] activities but also how witnesses have been silenced.”
Richard Scorer, a specialist abuse lawyer at Slater & Gordon, who is acting for one of Mr Fletcher’s victims and has acted for many other alleged victims of abuse by clergy, said: “Fletcher’s behaviour over many years has been profoundly abusive and harmful.
“I believe that those who have been harmed by him are likely to have legal claims against the church, which harboured and promoted him.
“I urge all who have been affected to come forward and tell their stories, including to the review process.”
A spokesman for Emmanuel Church said it had commissioned an independent review concerning Mr Fletcher and the church, to be undertaken by the safeguarding organisation, called thirtyone: eight, formerly the Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service.
Alleged victims are being encouraged to participate in the review, and the findings are expected to be published by May.
“The review will enable the voices of
those impacted by Jonathan Fletcher to be expressed, heard and considered alongside concerns from other relevant sources,” the spokesman added.
Mr Fletcher denied allegations he bullied and humiliated people but said the “massages” and “beatings” were consensual. He said he never gave ice baths, but did “very, very, very rarely” give “a cold bath”. He said: “Anything that happened was totally consensual, mutual and non-sexual.” He added that he was “deeply, deeply sorry for anybody that I have hurt or harmed in any way. If I knew the individuals that I had harmed I would seek their forgiveness and ask to apologise”.