By Richard Castle
Burton Mail
September 24, 2009
http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/burtonmail/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=451319
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A VILLAGE vicar has been arrested on suspicion of possessing indecent photographs, the Mail can reveal.
Burton Mail - Rev Dominic Stone, the vicar of Marchington, Marchington Woodlands, Kingstone and Church LeighRev Dominic Stone, the vicar of Marchington, Marchington Woodlands, Kingstone and Church Leigh, was released on police bail pending further enquiries in February, but has not been at work since, leaving his congregation mystified.
The Diocese of Lichfield has repeatedly refused to explain why the 46-year-old father-of-two has not conducted a service for the last seven months.
A Marchington resident, who asked not to be named, told the Mail she thought villagers deserved an explanation.
She said: “It’s been going on for far too long now and we all feel should have been told why our vicar has suddenly disappeared from his duties.
“There is a big shortage of vicars around here and people are suffering from that.
Some are having to wait for weeks to arrange funerals.
“The fact no one was saying anything about it has made people talk and there have been a lot of rumours flying around.
“The diocese should have put the rumours to bed and told us exactly what has happened.” A resident of Moisty Lane, the same road Rev Stone lives in, said he thought the diocese had handled the matter “appallingly”.
He said: “I’ve always found the vicar to be a very warm, welcoming, caring man in my experience.
“I’m not a religious man and don’t attend church, but I know he has done a fantastic job in the community in this village and his other parishes.
“However, I think the way this has been covered up by the diocese is terrible, they’ve handled the whole thing appallingly.” Despite knowing the Mail had discovered Rev Stone had been arrested, diocesan spokesman Gavin Drake said: “Rev Stone is not at work at the minute and that could be for any number of reasons.
“However, we cannot reveal them as issues of confidentiality are at stake here and, if the situation changes, we’ll say.
“I don’t want to speculate if or when he’ll be back at work. All we can deal with is the here and now.
“We realise there’s a lot of upset in the village but we must wait until the appropriate time to tell people what is happening.” A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: “We can confrim a 46-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possessing indecent photographs in February.” There was no answer when the Mail called at Rev Stone’s home yesterday.
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