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	Vicar Arrested over Sex Assault Claims icWales [Wales] December 8, 2006 http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/tm_headline=vicar-arrested-after-claims- ofsexassault26yearsago&method=full&objectid=18229913&siteid=50082-name_page.html A Vicar has been arrested over allegations of sexual assault dating back to the 1980s. It is also believed the Rev Alan Rabjohns, who has been vicar of St Saviours Church in the Splott area of Cardiff for the past 30 years, has been suspended from his job following the claims. A spokesman for South Wales Police said, "Following allegations of an historical nature reported to police, a 66-year-old man from the Cardiff area was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and has been released on police bail pending further inquiries. "The allegations date back to 1980." The spokesman said the vicar was due to answer bail at the end of January next year. The bishop announced the allegations to a stunned congregation who reacted with shock. Debbie Gray, of the South Splott Residents' Association, said she had known the vicar for about 18 years. She said, "I had heard a rumour. Somebody mentioned something to me last week, but I didn't believe it because of all the years I've known Alan. "I'm stunned that there's an allegation." She said that in all the years she'd known him he'd always acted in a professional manner. The assistant Bishop of Llandaff, the Dr Yeoman, said, "Our thoughts and prayers at this time are with all those concerned." According to the website of St Saviours Church, Rabjohns is married with six children and has been the parish priest since 1976. He was born in Warrington, Lancashire, in 1940 and trained for the priesthood at the College of the Resurrection in Mirfield, Yorkshire. He was ordained as a deacon in 1964 and as a priest in 1965, first serving as a priest in the Parish of Ashington, Newcastle. In 1967 he moved to Slough in the diocese of Oxford and was priest-in-charge of St Peter's Chalvey in the Parish of Upton cum Chalvey until 1976. The website says Rabjohns was active for many years in the pro-life movement, being national chairman of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children from 1978 to 1997. He has also been involved in the fight to preserve the Orthodox faith in the Anglican Communion as chairman of Cost of Conscience since 1986 and is a founder member and now chairman of Credo Cymru: Forward in Faith, Wales. A spokesman for the Church in Wales said, "The Church in Wales' Diocese of Llandaff has confirmed that the Rev Alan Rabjohns, vicar of St Saviours Splott, Cardiff, has been arrested and is helping police with their inquiries following a complaint. "Following Church in Wales procedures, Father Rabjohns has been suspended from all duties until the matter has been resolved. "The diocese of Llandaff is co-operating with the police in their inquiries." The assistant Bishop of Llandaff, Dr Yeoman, said, "Our thoughts and prayers at this time are with all those concerned."
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