Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell is under mounting pressure to step down after allegations emerged about his handling of a sexual abuse case during his tenure as Bishop of Chelmsford.
The calls come just days before he is due to temporarily lead the Church of England.
A BBC investigation revealed that Cottrell allowed David Tudor, a priest accused of sexual abuse, to remain in his post despite knowing Tudor had been prohibited by the Church from unsupervised contact with children.
Tudor had also paid compensation to a victim of abuse. A spokesperson for Cottrell stated he was in a “difficult position” and lacked the legal authority to dismiss Tudor.
Tudor was banned from ministry only two months ago after admitting to historical abuse allegations involving two girls. However, Bishop of Newcastle, Rt Rev Helen-Ann Hartley, criticised Cottrell’s inaction, calling for his resignation.
“It completely undermines his credibility,” she told BBC File on 4 Investigates. “How can you have the moral and ethical authority to lead an institution with that?”
One of Tudor’s victims, who received £10,000 in compensation, accused Cottrell of failing to act despite being aware of the payment. Speaking under the pseudonym Jessica, she said, “I feel like he [Stephen Cottrell] has spat in my face.”
The controversy surrounding Cottrell comes amidst broader scrutiny of the Church of England, following a damning report exposing its failure to address abuse by prominent barrister John Smyth.
This scandal led to the resignation of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, with Cottrell set to temporarily assume his responsibilities in the New Year.
The BBC investigation revealed that both Welby and former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey had prior involvement in the Tudor case—Welby in 2018 and Carey in 1993.
Over his 46-year career with the Church of England, Tudor is alleged to have abused at least seven women, with one victim receiving a six-figure settlement in 2019.
Others are now pursuing legal claims. Tudor served in London, Surrey, and Essex, rising to the position of honorary canon and earning a reputation for his charismatic sermons.
Cottrell became Bishop of Chelmsford in 2010, during which time Tudor was serving as an area dean. A spokesperson for the Archbishop confirmed that Cottrell was briefed on “longstanding safeguarding concerns” about Tudor during his first week in office.
Cottrell’s office argues that, until 2019, no new allegations surfaced that had not already been addressed, limiting his ability to take disciplinary action.
However, Bishop Hartley challenged this, stating, “Any action that could have been taken should have been vastly stronger than simply to try and manage a risk, particularly if the priest in question is already banned from working with children.”
The BBC uncovered that Cottrell was informed in 2012 about the £10,000 payment Tudor made to Jessica.
Jessica claims Tudor subjected her to violent sexual abuse starting when she was 11, during the 1970s, when he was training to become a minister. She pursued the claim after police dropped their investigation.
Jessica criticised the Church’s inaction, stating, “Nobody would make a payment if they haven’t got something to hide.”
Bishop Hartley echoed her concerns, arguing that the payout contradicted Church principles and should have triggered disciplinary action.
As the Archbishop prepares to take on temporary leadership of the Church, the fallout from these revelations casts a shadow over his ability to lead an institution grappling with its history of abuse and cover-ups. Whether Cottrell will heed calls for his resignation remains to be seen.
