Church of England Priest David Tudor Hit With Second Lifetime Ban After Decades of Abuse Cover Up

Disgraced Church of England Priest David Tudor Receives Second Lifetime Ministry Ban for Child Sexual Abuse

A Bishop's Disciplinary Tribunal for the Diocese of Southwark has imposed a second lifetime prohibition from ministry on former Church of England priest David Tudor, following a complaint relating to the sexual abuse of a 15 year old girl in the 1980s.

The tribunal, which upheld the complaint in November 2025, found that between April and September 1984, Tudor groomed and sexually assaulted the girl on multiple occasions over a six month period while serving as a priest in the Diocese of Southwark. He was 29 at the time and had been in ministry for six years.

The tribunal ruled that Tudor's misconduct was "egregious and of the utmost seriousness," describing it as a "deliberate and damaging failure to comply with the high standards of Christian behaviour."

Tudor had already received his first lifetime ministry ban in October 2024 after admitting that sexual abuse allegations made by two women were true. That earlier ban followed a full admission of guilt to serious sexual abuse during his time as a priest in Southwark.

It takes extraordinary courage to speak out and bring forward a complaint.

The Bishop of Southwark, Rt Rev Christopher Chessun, made the above statement and apologized "unreservedly for the pain and trauma he has caused."

The Bishop of Chelmsford, Rt Rev Dr Guli Francis Dehqani, said she was "profoundly sorry for the trauma and harm he has caused."

A BBC investigation in December 2024 had previously exposed deep failings in the Church's handling of Tudor's case over decades, during which time he was able to continue in active ministry.

How the Church of England Failed to Stop David Tudor's Abuse for Decades

Among the most damning findings was the role of Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, who served as Bishop of Chelmsford from 2010. Cottrell reportedly allowed Tudor, whom he described as a "Rolls Royce priest," to remain in post as a vicar under his oversight for nine years despite knowing about his history of sexual misconduct.

A separate tribunal cleared Cottrell of formal wrongdoing but acknowledged that "some mistakes were made" in the handling of the case.

This latest ban reinforces the Church's earlier disciplinary action and marks the conclusion of the third known complaint against Tudor under the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003.

The Crusader's Opinion

When the shepherds themselves become the wolves, every single believer has the right to demand answers. David Tudor did not just fail his calling. He weaponized it against children. And the Church of England knew. They knew and they let a man they called a "Rolls Royce priest" keep preaching, keep leading, keep standing behind the altar while his victims carried the weight of his evil in silence for decades. The institutional cowardice that allowed this man to remain in ministry is a stain on the entire Church. A second lifetime ban is not justice. It is an admission that the first one should have come 30 years earlier.

Take Action

• If you or someone you know has been affected by clergy abuse in the Church of England, contact the Safe Spaces helpline at 0300 303 1056.
• Report concerns about church safeguarding to the Church of England's National Safeguarding Team at churchofengland.org/safeguarding.
• Support survivors of abuse through Safeline, a UK charity providing support and counselling to survivors of sexual abuse.
• Support persecuted and vulnerable Christians worldwide through www.TheShepherdsShield.org.
• Share this story to demand accountability from church leadership. Silence protects abusers, not victims.