24 November 2025
A Bishop’s Disciplinary Tribunal for the Diocese of Southwark has upheld a new complaint against David Tudor under the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003. The complaint related to the serious sexual abuse of a 15 year old during the time David Tudor was a priest in the Diocese of Southwark in the 1980s.
The Tribunal hearing took place on 19 November 2025 and the Tribunal has adjourned to allow for representations regarding a penalty. The judgement will be published in full on the Church of England website in the coming weeks.
David Tudor was prohibited from ministry for life in October 2024 after a different Bishop’s Disciplinary Tribunal for the Diocese of Southwark upheld complaints from two other women, following his full admission of guilt to serious sexual abuse. That admission also related to the time David Tudor was a priest in the Diocese of Southwark and included serious sexual abuse involving a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old.
David Tudor was Rector of Canvey Island in the Diocese of Chelmsford at the time of his prohibition from ministry in October 2024. He had been a priest in the Diocese of Chelmsford since 1997 and had been suspended from ministry since 2019.
Commenting on this latest Tribunal decision, the Bishop of Chelmsford the Rt Rev’d Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani said:
“I want to thank sincerely the woman who brought this complaint, and to say how grateful I was to be able to meet with her earlier this year, She has shown great courage in coming forward to report David Tudor’s abuse and I am profoundly sorry for the harm he has caused her and the other survivors of the abuse he perpetrated.
“I also want to repeat my thanks to all those who have come forward to report David Tudor’s abuse and to the safeguarding professionals in the Diocese of Chelmsford, the Diocese of Southwark and in the National Safeguarding Team who have supported them and who continue to liaise with the statutory authorities in relation to David Tudor.
“There are important lessons that must be learned about how the Church of England handled the David Tudor case. We are continuing to support and work with the Independent Reviewers who are undertaking a Safeguarding Practice Review jointly commissioned by the National Safeguarding Team, and the dioceses of Chelmsford and Southwark. We will also continue to provide support to the Parish of Canvey Island where David Tudor was based.”
Reporting a concern, allegation or disclosure
The Diocese of Chelmsford Safeguarding Team
If you have a concern, allegation or disclosure relating to this case or any other matter relating to safeguarding, please call the Diocese of Chelmsford Duty Number on 01245 29 44 44 or email safeguarding@chelmsford.anglican.org
Safe Spaces
Safe Spaces is a free and independent support service for anyone who has experienced abuse in relation to the Church of England, the Church in Wales, or the Catholic Church of England and Wales. You can contact the Safe Spaces team through their helpline (0300 303 1056), their live chat facility or by emailing safespaces@firstlight.org.uk.
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Related Articles
A statement regarding David Tudor, 30 October 2024
David Tudor Safeguarding Practice Review,