Church of England forced woman abused by vicar to sign NDA

Church of England ‘forced woman abused by a vicar to sign a non-disclosure agreement over her abuse claims’ then paid her £40,000 but denied liability

• A woman claimed a Church of England Reverend would strut around naked
• She worked as the Reverend Tom Walker’s PA in the 1980s and 1990s 
• She complained in 2008 but was asked to sign a NDA after an investigation
• An inquiry in 2012 ordered by then Archbishop Rowan Williams found failings

In 2012 then Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams (pictured) called for an inquiry which stated: ‘A confidentiality clause should never be included in any agreement reached with a survivor.’

A woman has claimed the Church of England had her sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) after she alleged she was abused by a vicar.

In an interview with Channel 4 News, Jo Kind claims she reported the Reverend Tom Walker would walk around the vicarage naked in states of arousal.

Mrs Kind worked as his PA in the 1980s and 1990s at St John’s Church, Harborne, Birmingham, after she was married there and attending as a child.

She told the broadcaster: ‘He told me about the job and what my duties would be, then said he had problem with his libido and in order to rectify that he had medical advice that he should be without his clothes as much as possible.

‘And that he would see that as God giving him a gift. I nodded my acceptance, because I didn’t know what I was nodding my acceptance to.’

Jo Kind (pictured) spoke to Channel 4’s Cathy Newman about her claims she was asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement

This picture shows the Reverend Tom Walker (left) and the alleged victim Jo Kind (right) while she was working as a PA at St John’s Church, Harborne, Birmingham

Mrs Kind claimed that the Reverend Tom Walker would walk around the vicarage naked in states of arousal while she worked as his PA in the 1980s and 1990s

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Mrs Kind said she was concerned and distressed by the behaviour, particularly as the the Reverend asked her not to tell his wife.

She reported the conduct in 2008 after a conversation with a friend but the Bishop of Birmingham failed to follow it up appropriately in 2011, Channel 4 said.

Mrs Kind was asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement before they would let her read their report. 

In 2012 then Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams called for an inquiry which stated: ‘A confidentiality clause should never be included in any agreement reached with a survivor.’

But despite the Church of England’s claims they would deal with complaints appropriately Mrs Kind told the broadcaster she was asked to sign a NDA.

The Reverend Walker was given a telling-off by the Church and Mrs Kind was given £40,000 after she took civil action, but they admitted no liability.

The Church of England told the broadcaster they had published findings from the report on their website but redacted names to ensure safeguarding of victims.

The family of Reverend Walker told Channel 4 that he accepted some aspects of his behaviour were inappropriate but that they were never sexually motivated.

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