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	Indecency Probe Minister Dies Priest Was under Investigation for 'Offences of a Sexual Nature' By Joanna Skailes Press and Journal September 28, 2009 http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1415499?UserKey= A former Aberdeen minister under investigation for indecency offences has died at his home in England. Granite City-educated Rev Ian Thompson, 50, Dean of Chapel at King's College at Cambridge University, died from heart failure brought on by asphyxiation at his house near Cambridge on Thursday, police said. Mr Thompson, an Aber-deen University graduate, was being investigated for crimes in the Strathclyde area. A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police said: "We can confirm a report was sent to the procurator fiscal on December 3, 2007, in connection with alleged historical indecencies regarding Rev Ian Thompson." Sources close to the inquiry said the alleged offences were of a sexual nature. Mr Thompson, who was a commanding officer in the Salvation Army for many years before being ordained in 1994, was previously a rector at the St Mary's Scottish Episcopal Church – the "Tartan Kirkie" in Aber-deen's Carden Terrace. He spent five years with the Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney, where he was a youth chaplain. While there, he led a young people's exchange arrangement with a diocese in Umtata in South Africa. He moved south in 1999 and his career included the titles of Dean of Chapel at Selwyn College and chaplain of Selwyn and Newnham colleges at Cambridge. In 2005, he took up the post of Dean of Chapel at King's College and gave readings at the famous Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve each year. He was also the university's director of studies in theology and religion. His wife, Ann, who lives in Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire, said in a statement: "He was a wonderful, warm man who gave himself to everyone without sparing himself. He was loved by young and old in all walks of life and that has been demonstrated by the hundreds of cards and messages that have been received." Rev Canon James Alexander, Whitehall Road, Aberdeen, a retired minister who was rector at St Mary's for 20 years before Mr Thompson's appointment, said: "I had met him on occasions but I was always struck that he was a very good and caring priest. He was very popular with the young people. "We are all very shocked and sorry to hear about his death. We can ill afford to lose a good priest like that." A university spokesman said: "He died on September 24 and there is no comment at this time." He was also treasurer of Cambridge University Combined Boat Clubs. Police said the death was not being treated as suspicious and a file had been passed to the coroner.
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