Anthony Pierce
Anthony Pierce | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Swansea and Brecon | |
| Church | Church in Wales |
| Diocese | Diocese of Swansea and Brecon |
| Elected | 1999 |
| Installed | 1999 |
| Term ended | 16 January 2008 |
| Predecessor | Dewi Bridges |
| Successor | John Davies |
| Previous post(s) | Archdeacon of Gower (1995–1999) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1965 (deacon) 1966 (priest) |
| Consecration | 1999 by Rowan Williams |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 16 January 1941 |
| Nationality | Welsh |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Alma mater | Dynevor School, Swansea Swansea University Linacre College, Oxford Ripon College Cuddesdon |
Anthony Edward Pierce (born 16 January 1941) is a Welsh former Anglican bishop and convicted sex offender. He served as the Bishop of Swansea and Brecon in the Church in Wales from 1999 to 2008.[1] In 2025, he was convicted of five counts of indecent assault on a teenage boy and was sentenced to 4 years and 1 month in prison.
Early life and education
Pierce was born on 16 January 1941.[2] He was educated at Dynevor School, Swansea. He studied at Swansea University and Linacre College, Oxford. He trained for ordination at Ripon College Cuddesdon.
Career
He was ordained in 1966.[3] In Swansea he held curacies at St Peter's Church (1965–1967) and at St Mary's Church, Swansea (1967–1974), before being appointed vicar of Llwynderw in 1974 - a position he held until 1992. He was then chaplain of Singleton Hospital (1980-1995), Secretary of the Diocesan Conference (1991-1995) and Diocesan Director of Education (1992-1999).
Pierce served as Archdeacon of Gower from 1995 to 1999 and Rector of St Mary's Church, Swansea a from 1996 to 1999 when he became Bishop of Swansea and Brecon. He legally became Bishop when his election was confirmed by the Sacred Synod of the Church in Wales at their April 1999 meeting;[4] he was later ordained to the episcopate (consecrated) and enthroned at Brecon Cathedral. He retired in 2008.
In 2002 he was admitted to the Order of St John, being later elevated to KStJ. He is no longer a member.
On 10 December 2016, celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Anthony's ordination as a priest took place at St Mary's Church, Swansea where he had served as curate, and then rector of St Mary's Church, Swansea, before he was ordained to the episcopate.
Sexual abuse
In October 2023, Pierce was arrested after allegations of abuse were made against him by a victim who had been a teenager at the time of the abuse.[5] In February 2025, he pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault on a boy under the age of 16; they occurred between 1985 and 1990 when he was a parish priest in the West Cross area of Swansea.[6][7] In March 2025, he was jailed for 4 years and 1 month, and will be on the sex-offenders register for life.[7][8] Following his conviction, the Church in Wales began disciplinary action against Pierce, with John Lomas, the present Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, saying he will ask the Disciplinary Tribunal to depose him from Holy Orders.[9][10]
A separate allegation of sexual abuse by Pierce had been reported to senior figures in the church in 1993. Police, however, were only informed of that allegation in 2010, by which time the alleged victim had died.[11] In the mean time, he was promoted to archdeacon in 1995 and elected a bishop in 1999.[12] In relation to this allegation during a historic cases review between 2009 and 2010, the Church of Wales removed his permission to officiate but this was restored in 2011.[12] Then in 2016, his permission to officiate was once more removed.[12]
References
- ^ The National Archives
- ^ Who's Who 2008: London, A & C Black, 2008 ISBN 978-0-7136-8555-8
- ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory 1975-76 Lambeth, Church House, 1975 ISBN 0-19-200008-X
- ^ "Backward glance at Welsh synod". Church Times. No. 7106. 23 April 1999. p. 5. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 8 August 2023 – via UK Press Online archives.
- ^ "Former Swansea vicar who sexually abused teen boy sentenced". www.cps.gov.uk. The Crown Prosecution Service. 12 March 2025. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ^ "Bishop Anthony Pierce, 84, pleads guilty to indecent assault". Church Times. 7 February 2025. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ a b "Anthony Pierce: Ex-bishop jailed for sex attacks on boy". BBC News. 12 March 2025. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
- ^ Martin, Francis (12 March 2025). "Former Bishop of Swansea & Brecon Anthony Pierce sentenced". Church Times. Archived from the original on 20 March 2025. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
- ^ "Supplementary Statement from The Church in Wales on the case of Anthony Pierce". Church in Wales. 26 February 2025. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
- ^ "Statement on Anthony Pierce sentence". Church in Wales. 12 March 2025. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
- ^ "Former bishop Anthony Pierce jailed for historical child abuse". Sky News. 12 March 2025. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ a b c Canon Simon Lloyd (6 February 2025). "Terms of Reference: Independent Case Review – Anthony Pierce" (PDF). Church in Wales. Representative Body of the Church in Wales. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
Other sources
- "AUTOGRAPHS OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS: PG-PIL". HAVEL'S HOUSE OF HISTORY. Archived from the original on 31 August 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2012.