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	Tonbridge Priest at Centre of Sex Assault Case Dies Suddenly Kent News April 22, 2011 http://www.kentnews.co.uk/p_12/Article/a_13169/Tonbridge_priest_at_centre_of_sex_assault_case_dies_suddenly_ A Catholic priest facing allegations of sexual assault against a child has been found dead at his home. Police said they were not treating the death of Monsignor Michael Smith, who was parish priest of Corpus Christi Church in Tonbridge, as suspicious, and that a post mortem was taking place to establish the cause of death. His temporary withdrawal from his position in December sparked shockwaves in the community, with police launching a full probe into the allegations. Monsignor Smith, then 63, was arrested on suspicion of assault on December 7, 2010. No charges had been brought against the priest and a police spokeswoman said he had been given bail while enquiries were carried out. Officers discovered his body when they were called to address in Poynder Drive, Snodland at 8.50pm last Sunday. One member of the church said they were "devastated" at the news. She said: "We cannot believe it. It was distressing enough to hear of the allegations made against him, but to hear this news is appalling." Father Philip Glandfield, private secretary to the Archbishop of Southwark, from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark, which covers Kent, said: "It was with great sadness that we heard on Sunday evening of the unexpected death of Monsignor Smith, parish priest of Corpus Christi parish, Tonbridge. "Our hearts go out to his mother and family, and the parishioners of Corpus Christi parish whom Mgr. Smith served for the past 19 years. "We are waiting for the post mortem examination to determine the cause of his death and funeral arrangements will be published in due course. "In the meanwhile we ask for prayers for the repose of his soul, and for his family and the parishioners of Corpus Christi parish." The weekend after his arrest last year, the Archbishop of Southwark, Peter Smith, and Bishop John Hine, took mass at the Lyons Crescent church. The Archbishop told the congregation that it was "with great sadness" that he had to tell them that "an allegation has been made against Monsignor Smith concerning a young person". Corpus Chrisi Church, which currently has Tom McElhone as the parish administrator, said that it could not comment on Monsignor Smith’s death or the allegations. The police spokeswoman said: "Police were called to an address in Poynder Drive, Snodland at 8.53pm on Sunday, April 17, where the body of a deceased man was found. The matter is not being treated as suspicious and the coroner’s office has been informed."
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