Church of England Clergyman Found Guilty of Historical Sex Offences

The Guardian
August 4, 2016

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/aug/04/george-granville-gibson-church-of-england-guilty-indecent-assault

George Granville Gibson. Photograph: Raoul Dixon/North News & Pictures Ltd

A senior Church of England clergyman has been found guilty of sex offences committed against two young men in the 1970s and 80s amid claims of a church cover-up.

A jury at Durham crown court found George Granville Gibson, 80, the former archdeacon of Auckland, guilty of two counts of indecent assault against two men, then aged 18 and 26. He was found not guilty of buggery and four other charges of indecent assault. Two charges of indecent assault were dropped.

The court was told that the former bishop of Durham, John Habgood, had been told about Gibson’s inappropriate behaviour, which occurred when he was a vicar at St Clare’s Church in Newton Aycliffe. A former clergyman told the court he “got the push” from the church after raising concerns about Gibson.

Gibson was found guilty of indecently assaulting that man.

One of those giving evidence against Gibson accused the C of E of a “massive cover-up”. He said: “I didn’t make a complaint because no one would believe me, no one would believe that a man of the cloth would do that. I thought and still think no one would believe me. He was a vicar.”

The prosecution had set out a case of the senior clergyman’s “systematic, deliberate” abuse of vulnerable men. Gibson admitted in court to having had homosexual urges, but said he had only ever been sexually attracted to men, not young boys.

In 1993, Gibson was promoted to archdeacon of Auckland, effectively number two to the bishop of Durham.

Responding to the verdict, Paul Butler, the present bishop of Durham and until recently the C of E’s lead bishop on safeguarding, said: “We offer an unreserved apology to all the survivors and those affected by this news. We commend the bravery of those who brought these allegations forward, acknowledging how difficult and distressing this would have been.

“ We are profoundly sorry for the abuse perpetrated by Mr Gibson and remain committed to doing everything possible to ensure the wellbeing of children, young people and adults, who look to us for respect and care. Abuse is a terrible crime and a grievous breach of trust, which has lifelong effects.”

Butler said he had ordered an independent review of the circumstances surrounding the case.

Gibson was released on bail to be sentenced at a later date.