The Bishop of Worcester has voiced strong disapproval of Paula Vennells, saying her criticism of his leadership of the Church Buildings Review in 2019 “sticks in the gullet” in light of her gross incompetence as CEO of the Post Office
Ms. Vennells, who was ordained a non-stipendiary priest in 2006 and served as an assistant at three churches in Bedfordshire, last week handed back a government honor, Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) award, after over a million people endorsed a petition calling for her to be stripped of the award. Two weeks ago the ITV drama “Mr Bates vs The Post Office” highlighted the destruction visited upon postmasters across Britain due to a computer error. Known as the Horizon scandal, after the Fujitsu software that made the mistakes, Post Office executives are alleged to have known the software was faulty but permitted legal prosecutions for theft of 700 postmasters after the software asserted their sums were incorrect – prompting the Post Office to accuse them of theft.
Ms Vennells was also engaged by the Church of England as a consultant and an instructor for bishops’ training classes due to her perceived management skills.
Writing on Twitter on 11 January 2024, the Rt. Rev. John Inge, BIshop of Worcest stated: “I was the bishop who chaired the group which produced the Church Buildings review. It argued strongly, with a theological underpinning, that our 16,000 church buildings are a great blessing and should remain open.”
In the report, written by Ms Vennells, she said Inge’s “theology was much appreciated. It acknowledged the difficult task of closing churches but the thrust of the paper was about the blessing of church buildings. Those involved in the former read too biased a view into the position of the Bishop. Had they wanted to, it was difficult for lay managers (even senior) to question a Bishop on theology.”
Bishop Inge added: “I resigned as lead bishop in protest when, after two years, no progress has been made with its implementation despite the fact that its recommendations had been approved by the General Synod, the Archbishops’ Council and the House of Bishops.
“As I resigned, I called for a governance review to address the fact that the national structures had not implemented it.
“It’s ironic, in retrospect, that the review was conducted by Paula and it rather sticks in the gullet that she was critical of me but let’s not go there.
“I should add that there was no hidden agenda on the part of bishops to close churches and there isn’t now, as far as I’m aware. It remains very difficult to close churches, thankfully. I for one want to open more churches! Having said my bit, I’m bowing out of this discussion.”
