[9 Jan 2020] Next week, The BBC will screen a documentary on the Peter Ball case. The programme will air in two episodes, on Monday 13th and Tuesday 14th January, on BBC 2 at 9-10pm. The programme is billed as ‘Exposed: The Church’s Dark Secret’. The National Safeguarding Team has supported a number of people, at their request, who have given interviews to the programme, but no official comment has been requested from the Church.
The abuse perpetrated by Peter Ball, who was convicted in 2015 and died in 2019, was a grievous abuse of trust and the Archbishop of Canterbury commissioned a review into the Church’s handling of the case, which was carried out by Dame Moira Gibb. Her report, An Abuse of Faith, was published in 2017 and the Church has subsequently responded to the Gibb recommendations. The case was also the subject of one of the IICSA hearings into the Anglican Church in England and Wales (see page 2).
The Church of England has a statement on their website which advises anyone who has been affected by the programme to contact Emily Denne Emily.denne@churchofengland.org or go to our page on survivor support services.
The Diocese of Guildford is committed to support those who have in any way been affected by abuse in the church. Locally, if a member of your church community is affected by the programme they can contact Ian Berry, Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor by telephone on 07544 6566850 or by email, ian.berry@cofeguildford.org.uk. Details of national and local support services for those affected by abuse are available on the diocesan website at https://www.cofeguildford.org.uk/about/safeguarding-inclusion/reporting.
All media will be handled centrally but should you receive any requests for comment from journalists please either forward to Wendy.Sleight@cofeguildford.org.uk or provide my contact details 07552 566 953 directly to the journalist. We are here to support you.
Every blessing,
Bishop Andrew
The Diocese of Guildford, Church of England
t: 01483 790300 | e: info@cofeguildford.org.uk
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Church House Guildford, 20 Alan Turing Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7YF
