Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells criticised Bishop of Worcester

Ms Vennells has been embroiled in the Horizon scandal which has hit the headlines this week after the release of the ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office. 

Earlier this week the 65-year-old announced she was handing back her CBE after more than a million people signed a petition calling for her to be stripped of the honour.

On X, formerly Twitter, discussion has taken place on Ms Vennells' other previous roles. The spotlight shifted to her role as Rev Paula Vennells having been ordained as an Anglican priest in 2006 and serving at three churches in Bedfordshire. 

SPOTLIGHT: Paula Vennells has been in the spotlight this week (Image: Post Office/PA)The Bishop of Worcester, the Right Reverend Dr John Inge, chaired a group which produced the Church Buildings review, but was later criticised by Ms Vennells in 2019 in the 'Church Buildings Report - a lessons learnt review'. 

Explaining what happened after this resurfaced this week Bishop John said: "I was the bishop who chaired the group which produced the Church Buildings review.

"It argued strongly, with a theological underpinning, that our 16,000 church buildings are a great blessing and should remain open."

In the report, written by Ms Vennells, she said: "The (bishop's) theology was much appreciated.

"It acknowledged the difficult task of closing churches but the thrust of the paper was about the blessing of church buildings. 

"Those involved in the former read too biased a view into the position of the Bishop.

"Had they wanted to, it was difficult for lay managers (even senior) to question a Bishop on theology."

BISHOP: The Bishop of Worcester, the Right Reverend Dr John Inge,

The Bishop said on social media on Thursday, (January 11): "I resigned as lead bishop in protest when, after two years, no progress has been made with its implementation despite the fact that its recommendations had been approved by the General Synod, the Archbishops’ Council and the House of Bishops.

"As I resigned, I called for a governance review to address the fact that the national structures had not implemented it.

"It’s ironic, in retrospect, that the review was conducted by Paula and it rather sticks in the gullet that she was critical of me but let’s not go there.

"I should add that there was no hidden agenda on the part of bishops to close churches and there isn’t now, as far as I’m aware. It remains very difficult to close churches, thankfully. I for one want to open more churches! Having said my bit, I’m bowing out of this discussion."

Attempts to contact Ms Vennells proved unsuccessful.

Ms Vennells ran the Post Office while it routinely denied there was a problem with its Horizon IT system which resulted in the conviction of more than 700 Post Office branch managers.

Earlier this week Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced there will be a new law to exonerate the branch managers.