A shocking new report reveals that Anthony Pierce, a former bishop within the Church in Wales, was appointed to senior roles despite serious sexual abuse claims hanging over him. Pierce, now 85, was convicted and jailed last year for the abuse of a young boy in the 1980s, crimes he committed while serving as a parish priest in Swansea.
The review uncovers that leaders within the Church were aware of allegations against Pierce as early as the 1990s, yet he still rose through the ranks, even becoming the Bishop of Swansea and Brecon in 1999. Astonishingly, these allegations were only reported to the police in 2010, long after the victim had tragically passed away, leaving the authorities with no choice but to halt further investigation.
Adding complexity to the case, former Archbishop of Wales, Dr. Rowan Williams, was mentioned in the report. Though given a detailed account of the allegations against Pierce, he did not read it at the time—an oversight stemming from a lack of proper briefing and context, according to the report’s author, Gabrielle Higgins.
In response to the findings, the current Archbishop of Wales, The Rt Revd Cherry Vann, has issued a heartfelt apology to those let down by the Church. She acknowledges the report’s painful insights into how the Church mishandled abuse claims, contributing to a legacy of mistrust and trauma among victims.
The Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, The Rt Revd John Lomas, echoed these sentiments, acknowledging the deepened trauma of victims who suffered under a failed institution. Both leaders vowed to overhaul safeguarding processes to prevent such failings from ever happening again.
Shame is palpable in the wake of this report, but so is a commitment to change. The Church has pledged to accept and act on all recommendations, committing to rigorous reviews and safeguarding policies to ensure the integrity of the institution and the safety of its community. Anthony Pierce has since been deposed from holy orders and is no longer serving as a priest.