The Reverend Jonathan Cruickshank has left his parish in Devon after two years, citing a 'culture of bullying' that made him and his wife feel unwelcome. He departed his churches in Holbeton, Noss Mayo, and Newton Ferrers in June and has since moved to St Peters-in-Thanet in Kent.
In a letter printed in the May parish newsletter, Mr Cruickshank said he and his wife were leaving after being made to feel unwelcome by some parishioners. Some members of the congregation reported seeing 'constant criticism' of him by others.
The Bishop of Exeter, Dr Michael Langrish, wrote to the congregations, stating that a 'culture of bullying' will 'never be acceptable within the Christian church'. The letter, read out at Holy Cross, St Peter's, and All Saints churches, acknowledged that there are 'a number of issues which need to be addressed' and that it is difficult for a parish priest to be effective when 'different places and people are working to different agendas'.
An anonymous member of the congregation described hearing the letter as 'quite a shock initially because it was a letter really condemning the parishes and the way they had obviously treated the outgoing vicar'. The Bishop's office confirmed that the diocese 'always does its utmost to support clergy and lay officers in parishes'.
