ST ALBANS (UNITED KINGDOM)
The Telegraph [London, England]
August 5, 2023
By Gabriella Swerling
Church of England look into allegation Bishop Graham Cray did not act on safeguarding concerns over Mike Pilavachi’s behaviour
A bishop and former chair of Soul Survivor is being investigated by Church of England officials amid allegations that he failed to act on reports of abuse, The Telegraph understands.
The Soul Survivor Watford Church was founded by Rev Canon Mike Pilavachi, a charismatic 65-year-old evangelical Christian with global influence. His Soul Survivor annual summer festivals attracted tens-of-thousands of teenagers until they ended in 2019.
In May, this newspaper published details for the first time revealing that he had emotionally abused his alleged victims, encouraging them to receive full-body oil massages on his bed and engage in vigorous wrestling matches.
The Church of England’s National Safeguarding Team (NST) and the Diocese of St Albans are currently carrying out a joint investigation into allegations surrounding Soul Survivor and Pilavachi – who has since been suspended and resigned from his role at the church he founded.
However, it has since emerged that Bishop Graham Cray, a former chair of Soul Survivor, who has retired from ministry, is being investigated by church officials.
The Telegraph understands that NST investigators are looking into allegations that he failed to pass on or act on reports of abuse.
In a statement, the Church of England said that any safeguarding concerns relating to clergy or church staff – whether an allegation of abuse or failure to act – “have been and will continue to be explored”.
Bishop Cray was a champion of charismatic evangelicals in the 1980s.
He was the Bishop of Maidstone in the Diocese of Canterbury from 2001 to 2009 and was also the Archbishops’ Missioner and team leader of Fresh Expressions, an evangelical movement established by Baron Williams of Oystermouth, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, from 2009 to 2014.
He is also a former chair of Soul Survivor, and Companies House records show that he was a director of Soul Survivor from May 2000 until his resignation in August 2020.
Bishop Cray now holds the title of Honorary Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of York, having retired from full-time ministry in 2014.
The update regarding the NST investigation comes after it emerged in June that the two pastors drafted in to lead the Hertfordshire-based Soul Survivor Watford Church in the wake of Pilavachi’s suspension were also suspended amid allegations that they failed to act on claims of abuse.
Rev Andy Croft, the church’s senior pastor – who is the son of the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft – and Ali Martin, the church’s assistant pastor, are currently suspended from Soul Survivor Watford church.
At the time, the Church of England said that they had been suspended “under HR processes” following information submitted to the investigation into Pilavachi.
Just two weeks later, it emerged that an email sent to the church’s congregants, and leaked to this newspaper, revealed that Soul Survivor Watford church officials were encouraging cards and messages of support for the two suspended pastors, as well as continued prayers for “the Crofts, the Martins and for Mike”.
The email prompted victims to accuse the church of “gaslighting” and “praying for the perpetrators” amid its “tone-deaf public displays of affection”.
Soul Survivor inspired a global movement with outposts in countries as varied as Holland, Malaysia, South Africa, Australia, Canada, the US and New Zealand, which continue to run today.
A Church of England spokesman said: “Throughout the safeguarding investigation into Mike Pilavachi, any identified safeguarding concerns relating to other members of clergy and/or Church Officers, whether an allegation of abuse or failure to act, have been and will continue to be explored and risk managed according to House of Bishops guidance.
“We cannot comment further on details as this is a live investigation. The National Safeguarding Team and diocese of St Albans continue to offer support to those who have come forward.”
Bishop Cray was contacted for a comment in response and Martin Sheppard, director of communications for the Diocese of York, said: “With regard to your enquiry sent to Bishop Graham Cray, since the Church of England National Safeguarding Team is continuing its investigation into Mike Pilavachi, Bishop Graham will not be making any comment while that process is still under way.”