Church of England Settles with Priest Amid Child Safeguarding Concerns

A BBC investigation has revealed that the Church of England made a substantial financial settlement to Canon Andrew Hindley, a priest deemed a potential risk to children and young people. Hindley, who served in the Blackburn diocese from 1991 to 2021, was the subject of five police investigations, including allegations of sexual assault. The former Bishop of Blackburn, Julian Henderson, described the settlement as the “only option” to protect vulnerable individuals from Hindley’s potential threat, following the Church's decision to force his retirement. Despite the Church's claims that the settlement was a response to legal action initiated by Hindley, evidence suggests that attempts to pay him off had been made multiple times over the years. Concerns about Hindley’s conduct were longstanding, with warnings about “serious safeguarding concerns and allegations” dating back 25 years. Church leaders commissioned expert risk assessments to evaluate the safeguarding risks posed by Hindley, highlighting the Church's duty of care to its community. A family member of one of Hindley’s alleged victims indicated that the Church was hesitant to take decisive action, citing advice from the Archbishop of Canterbury that legal avenues were insufficient. Henderson expressed that if Hindley were to return to ministry, he would consider shutting down the cathedral’s operations, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. In a joint statement, Henderson and Blackburn Cathedral's Dean, Peter Howell-Jones, acknowledged the need for the Church to prioritize the voices of abuse survivors and to act decisively on safeguarding issues, criticizing the inaction of senior clergy as a failure of courage.