A Diocese of Birmingham vicar has been banned from the ministry for refusing to inform when she had knowledge of child sexual abuse.
On 6 March 2023 the Penalty Hearing in the case of the Rev. Helen Greenham was held by the Bishop’s Disciplinary Tribunal for the Church of England Birmingham. In October 2022 Greenham pled guilty to the charge of misconduct in public office under the Clergy Discipline Measure.
A statement from the diocese said: “The Tribunal agreed the penalty of removal from public office and Prohibition from Ministry for life, which reflects the severity of the misconduct. We await publication of the Tribunal misconduct Finding, in approximately 28 days.”
Greenham was vicar of St Helen’s Church in Solihull when she was suspended from office pending the outcome of the ecclesial proceedings. In August 2022, her husband, Peter Jenkins, was jailed for 13 years for having committed a series of sexual offenses against young girls between 1984 and 2005.
The diocese reports the offenses committed against four girls predated Greenham’s appointment to Solihull. The former vicar told the church court that she was aware of her husband’s offenses, but did not report them. She further permitted him to volunteer at the parish, potentially exposing vulnerable children and adults to him.
No criminal charges have been brought against Greenham. She has since separated from her husband.
