A FORMER Worcester curate who told colleagues she was a swinger and turned up to several church services drunk has been banned from any role in the clergy for at least 12 years.

A Church of England tribunal found Reverend Teresa Davies guilty of “conduct unbecoming or inappropriate to the office and work of a clerk in holy orders”.

The tribunal’s determination announced yesterday at a hearing at the Anglican Communion Office in London followed complaints made about Mrs Davies – who did her curacy at St Stephen’s Church, Droitwich Road, Barbourne, between 2002 and 2006 – from her time as team vicar in the Daventry team ministry.

In the first of these, two clergy said Mrs Davies had told them after a Christmas lunch in 2006 that she and her husband were swingers.

She said they had spent holidays without their children at a particular area in the south of France noted for “the casual exchange of sexual partners”.

The tribunal also heard claims she had been drunk at four separate church services in 2006 and had smelled of alcohol, been unsteady on her feet on one occasion and on another did not know the order of service.

The tribunal found it had been proved Mrs Davies was drunk on three of the four occasions.

In its conclusion, the tribunal said: “The tribunal has absolutely no doubt that on December 18, 2006, the respondent made the claims attributed to her, namely that she and her husband had an open sexual relationship and engaged in sexual activity with others outside their marriage.

“Bearing in mind her admission that she and her husband visited the particular resort in the summer months without their children and the evidence of the personal website profiles entries reflecting their claims, the tribunal has determined that her behaviour was scandalous.”

Mrs Davies, who told the tribunal she had developed a drinking problem during her ministry but had declined professional help, officially resigned in August this year. It is thought she has now trained to be a teacher.

St Stephen’s church warden Judy Hood emphasised the offences related to a time when Mrs Davies was no longer in Worcester.

“We had no problems with her whatsoever while she was here,” she said. “She was an excellent curate with us.”

The Bishop of Worcester Dr John Inge said he was sorry to hear about Mrs Davies’ difficulties.

“Although it was before my time as bishop, I understand that there have been no allegations concerning anything during her time in Worcester that would have compromised her work here,” he said.