East Lancashire Suspended Priest Takes up New Role

This is Lancashire
July 26, 2012

http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/news/9840245.East_Lancashire_suspended_priest_takes_up_new_role/

MOVING ON Rev Fielder

AN EAST Lancashire priest has resigned his post in charge of a church after his suspension came to a close.

The Rev Joe Fielder, the priest-in-charge at St John’s, Baxenden, was suspended by Blackburn Diocese in March after he was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an 11-year-old-boy.

A church investigation was completed this month and a decision to take no action against the Rev Fielder was made. Police have also taken no action.

The diocese said it had now come to an agreement with Mr Fielder over his resignation.

A spokesman at Blackburn Diocese said they announced “with regret” that “in order to best help protect the welfare of Joe’s family and to help the church family of St John’s Baxenden to be clear and to be able to move forward, Joe has agreed to resign as priest-in-charge of St John’s Baxenden.”

Mr Fielder is to take up a role as an associate priest in the Blackburn with Darwen Deanery after he steps down at the end of August.

The Bishop of Blackburn, Nicholas Reade, said: “I am grateful for the ministry of Joe in Baxenden and for the good things that have taken place whilst he has been the vicar.

“My colleagues and I look forward to working with him in his new role in the diocese”.

Since taking over at St John’s, in Manchester Road in 2009, Mr Fielder has led a successful ?30,000 campaign for dry rot roof repairs. Last year he was lice-nsed by the diocese to be Deanery Mission Enabler for the Accrington Deanery.

The Bishop of Black-burn added: “My colleagues and are now looking forward to working with the leaders and congregation of St John’s as they start to look to the future.”

Mr Fielder was yesterday unavailable for comment.