Church camp leader and rector reported as abuser

4 hours ago

Smyth is said to have subjected as many as 130 boys and young men to traumatic attacks across five decades

BBC A screenshot of John Smyth being interviewed. He is wearing a stripey white and blue shirt and in a chair, which is blurred because it is in the background and not in focus. — Smyth is said to have subjected as many as 130 boys and young men to traumatic attacks across five decades

A Christian camp leader who was the rector of an Oxford church is alleged to have been sexually abusive, coercive and controlling towards women and girls.

David Fletcher was rector of St Ebbe's Church between 1986 and 1998 and remained a member of its congregation until his death in January 2022, aged 89.

The Church of England said information about him was brought to its National Safeguarding Team and the Diocese of Oxford after the Makin Review was published in November.

The review's publication centred on serial abuser John Smyth and ultimately led to the resignation of the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.

Mr Fletcher led the Iwerne camps in Dorset between 1967 and 1986, where much of the Smyth's abuse was said to have taken place.

Smyth, who died in 2018, is said to have subjected as many as 130 boys and young men to traumatic attacks across five decades in the UK and Africa.

David Fletcher was rector of St Ebbe's Church between 1986 and 1998

Google A Google Maps image of St Ebbe's in Oxford, a stone church. — David Fletcher was rector of St Ebbe's Church between 1986 and 1998

In an interview with the Makin Review in 2020, Mr Fletcher said he "thought [reporting of Smyth's abuse] would do the work of God immense damage if [it] were public."

He also told the review that he could tell by Smyth's behaviour "how attracted he was to boys."

Mr Fletcher added: "[Smyth] took me on the boundary line at a cricket match, and he said: 'Look at that boy there, doesn't he look tremendous?'"

The Diocese of Oxford said it reported allegations of Mr Fletcher's alleged abuse to police and that they have been recorded as a crime.

It thanked "those who have bravely come forward" and has offered them support, along with Mr Fletcher's family.

In a statement, St Ebbe's Church said that after 2017 it received complaints from two women that Mr Fletcher had previously been "inappropriately tactile" with them.

The church said it referred the complaints to the Diocese of Oxford's safeguarding team.

By 2017 Mr Fletcher was unwell and ceased doing any ministry.

"We are committed to doing all we can to make St Ebbe's a safe and healthy community," the church's statement added.

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