THE senior Blackburn Cathedral clergyman suspended in May 2018 over allegations of sexual assault has been cleared by a Church of England disciplinary panel – then promptly re-suspended.

Canon Andrew Hindley had been accused of inappropriately touching a woman and a teenage girl.

In February last year a police investigation ended without charge and now a church probe has come to the same conclusion.

But the 61-year-old priest has now been suspended from all ministerial duties again on ‘new grounds’ understood to relate to a historical complaint of misconduct.

The Cathedral has appointed the Rev Gary O’Neill as interim precentor from July to fulfil the duties of organising services and music which were part of Canon Hindley’s £26,000-a-year-post as canon sacrist.

In his weekly letter to the congregation, the Dean of Blackburn Peter Howell-Jones said: “I understand that a number of people have been receiving telephone calls and texts concerning Canon Hindley.

“In light of this, Bishop Julian has asked for the following statement to be included in my pastoral letter to the congregation this week: ‘As some may have heard, (hence the reason for this message), the complaints under the Clergy Discipline Measure about Canon Hindley were determined by means of electronic communications on Friday evening, stating that those complaints were not to be taken forward to a Tribunal. This brief message is simply to state that Canon Hindley remains suspended on new grounds from all ministerial duties.’.”

Canon Hindley said: “The previous complaint was not decided by electronic means. It was decided by Sir Mark Hedley, the deputy chairman of tribunals and a former High Court judgein the family division. All matters relating to that complaint are now ended. The new grounds related to a historical complaint which has been dismissed six times by various agencies.”

The Very Rev Howell-Jones said: “I am sorry to hear that there are further issues which Canon Hindley will have to deal with. I will pray for him. Hopefully this can be resolved satisfactorily and swiftly.”

There have been no new complaints to the police.

Commenting on the new interim precentor’s appointment the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Julian Henderson, said: “I am delighted that Gary has accepted this invitation to come and help us at Blackburn Cathedral for this interim period of time. He will bring considerable expertise from his past experience, as well as good support for the existing team, when resources are severely stretched. He will enable the high standards of liturgy and music that we expect of our Cathedral Church to be maintained for the immediate future.”