Vicar "Bullied out of His Job by Right-wing Drinkers in His Flock"

The Mirror
January 23, 2014

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/father-simon-tibbs-quit-st-3054758#.UuIgXxDGztQ

Father SImon Tibbs and St Faith's

"Right wing" worshippers bullied a priest out of his parish after he objected to their after-church drinking binges.

Father Simon Tibbs was targeted by the mob, furious that he was unhappy about their boozy culture.

The vicar quit his role at St Faith’s in Crosby, Merseyside, last September following the tense stand-off.

A damning report presented to the Parochial Church Council (PCC) this week described the behaviour of some in the flock as "not befitting of a Christian community."

An investigation into the bust-up was carried out by a senior bishop who discovered a campaign of "organised bullying" which had forced Father Tibbs to the exit door.

The vicar had been shocked to find a drinking culture at the church described as similar to a “social club”.

The dossier said: “Members enjoy Anglo-Catholic worship of a traditional kind but have little interest in either Church growth or mission to the community in which they are set.”

Tensions came to a head when Father Tibbs enforced a cut in alcohol consumption replaced an elderly Sunday school leader.

Bishop Stephen Lowe said: “Simon challenged something about the culture of St Faith’s and upset some key members of the ‘inner circle’ of St Faith’s power.

“There is evidence of some political division between a left-leaning priest and some small number of very right-wing members whom your visitor found extremely difficult.”

Summing up, Rt Revd Richard Blackburn, the Bishop of Warrington, said: “I’m greatly saddened by the findings of Bishop Stephen’s report, especially his observations of a culture of bullying against a priest in Holy Orders which neither I, or the Diocese of Liverpool, will tolerate.

“It is clear that a new fire needs to be kindled at St Faith’s; no longer is it right that old embers continue to be raked over.

“A long, difficult and painful process lies ahead if the failure of the spiritual life of this church is to be properly addressed.”