Anglican Church Faces New Abuse Scandal as Senior Bishop Faces Resignation Calls

Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, is under pressure to resign over his handling of a sexual abuse case involving priest David Tudor, who was allowed to continue in ministry despite a history of abuse allegations.

Cottrell, soon to temporarily lead the Church, faces criticism for failing to take stronger action during his tenure as Bishop of Chelmsford, where Tudor was banned from being alone with children but still allowed to oversee parishes. The scandal follows an independent investigation that led to the resignation of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby over similar abuse cover-ups.

Born in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, in 1958, Stephen Cottrell was educated at Belfairs High School, Leigh-on-Sea, and the Polytechnic of Central London. He found faith as a teenager through the work of youth organisations in his local church. 

After a brief spell working in the film industry, and at St Christopher’s Hospice in South London, he started training for ministry at St Stephen’s House, Oxford, in 1981 and was ordained deacon at the age of 25. He later studied for an MA with St Mellitus College.