Ex-vicar’s tribunal halted by legal row

As previously reported in your Worcester News, the Rev Mark Sharpe resigned from his post in Hanley Broadheath, near Tenbury Wells, in September 2009.

He has accused the Diocese of Worcester of failing to protect him from a campaign of abuse and bullying from parishioners – accusations the diocese denies.

An employment tribunal was due to start in Birmingham on Monday but the Unite union claims the Church “unleashed mountains of documents” to the vicar’s legal team at the last minute, forcing an adjournment.

The accusation is denied by the Church.

Rachel Maskell, from Unite, said: “The church has had nearly three years to make its disclosures in this very serious case and waited, cynically, to just a few hours before the proceedings to unleash mountains of documents on the tribunal, ensuring that Mark and his lawyers have no time to study these papers.”

The Diocese of Worcester has labelled Unite’s comments as “highly inaccurate and extremely misleading”.

Spokesman Sam Setchell said: “It is simply not true that thousands of new documents were produced to Mr Sharpe or his solicitor in the days or hours before the hearing.

“The documents relevant to the tribunal case were disclosed in good time in advance of the hearing.

“Unite’s comments are consistent with their attempts to paint the church in the worst possible light.”

In response to the Diocese of Worcester’s comments a spokesman from Unite said: “They can say what they like.

"Documents were provided at the last minute. What they regard as ‘good time’, we find completely unacceptable.

“We have given our view in good faith – it is for the readers of the Worcester News to decide on the issue.”

Monday’s hearing was to decide whether or not Mr Sharpe was an employee of the church and has a right to have his case heard at an employment tribunal.

The case has been adjourned until Monday, November 21.