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	Church Suspend Rev over Affair By John Coles The Sun April 28, 2010 http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2951099/Church-suspend-Rev-over-affair.html A SENIOR clergyman has been suspended from his cathedral duties over his relationship with a farmer's wife he counselled through a divorce. The Very Reverend Dr Chris Hardwick, 52, Dean of Truro Cathedral in Cornwall, helped mum-of-three Sarah Sainsbury when she turned to the church over the breakdown of her marriage. Rev Hardwick, a dad-of-two, told officials he was planning to leave his music teacher wife Linda but denied anyone else was involved. But church leaders suspended him from all his duties as Dean after they discovered he had been 'involved' with Mrs Sainsbury, who is in her 30s. Rev Hardwick, who became one of the country's youngest-ever cathedral deans at the age of 47, shares a deanery home in Truro with his wife and teenage children. Disciplinary A spokesman for the Bishop of Truro, The Right Reverend Tim Thornton, said: "The Diocese has only recently been made aware that the Dean had been meeting Sarah Sainsbury as part of his pastoral counselling role because she herself was going through a divorce process. "The Dean had shared the news of the difficulties with his marriage in confidence with the Bishop. "But it is only in the past few days that he and the Diocese have been made aware of the alleged involvement of another woman. The Dean volunteered the information. "The Bishop is presently consulting with the Dean as to the nature of his continuing role at the Cathedral and within the Diocese. "The Bishop has, however, initiated an inquiry as to whether or not there are grounds for proceeding with a formal disciplinary process. "The Dean is taking a break from his cathedral and Diocesan duties until further notice, in order to devote time to resolving personal issues relating to his marriage." The spokesman added: "The breakdown of any relationship is always a sad and traumatic experience for everyone involved. "During the forthcoming weeks appropriate pastoral support will be offered to all the affected families." Mrs Sainsbury had links with the cathedral where she runs a church group for youngsters. It is thought her divorce to farmer husband Ralph was finalised last week and the pair are now living in different homes in Truro. No-one was available for comment today at the marital home they had shared in the Cornish village of St. Clement. In a statement Linda, Rev Hardwick's wife of 23 years, said: "My husband and I are having some marital problems which we are trying to resolve. "There is no-one else involved as the cause of the problems. I would request that the media respect our privacy at this difficult time." Speaking from his doorstep Rev Hardwick said: "I have absolutely no idea what these rumours are about. I have no comment to make." A neighbour of the Sainsburys, who asked not to be named, said she was "shocked" by the affair. She said: "I think it's an utter disgrace that a man of God should get himself mixed up with a married woman. What sort of an example does it set for the rest of us?" Rev Hardwick spent 15 years in banking before becoming a church reader in 1987.
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