THE Church of England is advertising for a replacement priest to take on part of the former duties of the Rev Harry Brown, who lost his job earlier this year following a high-profile appeal hearing.
The Church would like a priest to work part-time in Crosscrake, living in the vicarage under a “house for duty priest” arrangement.
Mr Brown, who was priest-in-charge of Crosscrake and Preston Patrick, lost his job earlier this year when an appeal to the Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, failed to overturn an earlier decision to revoke his licence.
The Archbishop said that allegations of misconduct had been proved in three areas of sexual harassment, intimidation and financial impropriety.
At the time, the Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt Rev Graham Dow, said that the united benefice of Crosscrake and Preston Patrick may have to be split up following the problems.
This week, the Archdeacon of Westmorland and Furness, the Ven George Howe, said that following discussions with both parishes, it was hoped that Preston Patrick would become part of the Kirkby Lonsdale team ministry. The move would be part of a re-organisation of parishes currently under discussion.
In the longer term, it was hoped that Crosscrake would also join a larger team.
Archdeacon Howe said: “In the short to medium term they (Crosscrake parish) need a priest resident in the parish to help to build up the church.
“We are hoping to appoint a priest on a short term basis, for three years, and then they will hopefully become part of a wider team.” Archdeacon Howe said that “house for duty” was a fairly common arrangement that often suited a priest who was not ready to retire but who was looking for a post leading up to retirement. In return for living in the vicarage and expenses, he or she would offer two or three days a week in the parish, including taking Sunday services.
Archdeacon Howe said Crosscrake and Preston Patrick parishes were recovering following Mr Brown’s departure.
“They seem to me to be working well. Obviously a healing process has been necessary and that’s going to take time, but my feeling is things are going reasonably well and the congregation are pulling together and trying to look forward after what’s been a very difficult period.” He said it was possible that the past problems might put off potential applicants, but he hoped not because the parishes were “ready to move on”.
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