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	Bishop Renews Apology over Sex Crimes Vicar By Alli Pyrah Evening Gazette November 19, 2007 http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2007/11/19/bishop-renews-apology-over-sex-crimes-vicar-84229-20127768/ CHURCH goers spoke of their desire to move on from a dark past after a public apology by the Bishop of Whitby for sex crimes committed by a former vicar. The Rt Revd Robert Ladds made a public apology for the crimes committed by Trevor Ward during a special service at his former church in Easterside, Middlesbrough. Ward, who was vicar of St Agnes' Church between 1981 and 1987, was convicted of sexually abusing children in March 1988. He was sentenced to seven years in jail and stripped of his priestly orders before his death in December 2006. Until this weekend, the absence of an apology from the diocese drove a wedge between the church and the local community and a plaque bearing his name continued to hang on the walls of St Agnes. Now the Rt Revd Ladds is hoping the twenty-year-old wounds will begin to heal following his apology on Saturday. "It is my prayer that this service may be an opportunity for reconciliation between the church and the community and that we may now move forward together," he said. "Forgiveness for a deep-felt hurt is seldom easy but it is the only basis on which true healing can take place." Members of the public attending the service said the apology was a "brave" and positive move. "I'm over the moon," said community activist June Goodchild, a regular member of the congregation. "I don't think the church could have done any more than they have done today. "I hope now when I talk about the church, people don't walk away. At the end of the day it was one man who did the crimes, it wasn't all the church." June, 65, said Ward's actions had hung "like a black cloud" over Easterside. She said: "It brings me to tears whenever I think about it because those kids that were abused, I know one of them personally." Lynn Nellist, 53, attended church for the first time in 20 years after her request for the plaque bearing Trevor Ward's name to be taken down was finally granted. "I can get over it now because I know his name's not up," said Lynn, who has lived in the estate's Easterside Road for 28 years. "I still feel emotional about it. It's been a long journey." The service was also attended by the Ven Paul Ferguson, Archdeacon of Cleveland, the Rev Ray Morris, child protection officer for the Diocese of York and the Rev Margery Grange, the current priest in charge of St Agnes.
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