Vicar stole funeral fees

A REDDITCH vicar has been banned for three years after admitting stealing funeral fees.

Rev Peter Worrall pleaded guilty to keeping more than £9,500 in statutory fees over a four year period dating back to 2007, which should have been given to the Diocesan Board of Finance. He was sentenced in March to a 12 month community order and 200 hours unpaid work.

Before he was charged with the offence a complaint had already been made against him by the Archdeacon of Dudley and Worrall was suspended but could only be dealt with once court action had been completed.

It has now been decided Worrall, who was minister at St Phillip’s Church in Webheath, will be removed from his office on August 30 and banned from exercising any ministry as a priest for a period of three years.

He and his family will still be able to live in the vicarage until then.

In a statement to parishioners Bishop of Worcester Dr John Inge said the process to replace Worrall would begin immediately.

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