- Police raided the house of Rev Geoffrey Baulcomb, 78, and located a meth stash
- He later informed church officers he had used medicine, together with heroin, for 20 years
- Vicar had retired from St Mary the Virgin church in Eastbourne, East Sussex
A vicar who claimed his crystal meth behavior helped him relate to his parishioners has been expelled by the Church of England.
Police raided the house of Rev Geoffrey Baulcomb, 78, and located a stash of the Class-A drug together with the tranquilliser ketamine.
He accepted a police warning for possessing the substances and informed church officers he had been shopping for and utilizing medicine, together with heroin, ‘periodically’ for 20 years.
Baulcomb retired from the historic St Mary the Virgin church in Eastbourne, East Sussex, a number of years in the past, however was nonetheless an ordained priest on the time of the offence.
The CofE’s disciplinary tribunal ‘completely rejected’ his declare that taking medicine ‘assisted him in finishing up his pastoral mission’.
Rev Geoffrey Baulcomb had informed church officers he had been utilizing medicine for 20 years
Retired vicar Rev Geoffrey Baulcomb, 78, who claimed his crystal meth behavior helped him relate to his parishioners, has been expelled by the Church of England. Pictured: St Mary the Virgin church in Eastbourne, East Sussex the place he was previously appointed
Police raided the vicar’s residence and located a stash of the Class-A drug methamphetamine alongside with the tranquilliser ketamine (file pic)
In its judgment, the panel mentioned Baulcomb had argued that ‘experimenting with medicine or offering a venue at his residence for drug taking higher permits him to narrate and minister to folks’.
It added: ‘The Tribunal thought of [his] try to justify drug taking as part of his ministry as solely misconceived, displaying a basic misunderstanding of the character of his Holy Orders.’
Police discovered the medicine at Baulcomb’s £250,000 cottage close to Eastbourne in December 2022.
He informed church officers: ‘I bought medicine periodically during the last 20 years. I used to be provided and accepted a easy warning.
‘The small quantity of crystal meth discovered was bought final Could and I sampled a small quantity.
‘I completely settle for I used to be mistaken to have them. I’m solely too nicely conscious of the excessive requirements of my calling as a priest.’
He additionally admitted injecting himself with heroin on an earlier event within the presence of the drug seller who had provided it.
He later requested the Church for mercy on the grounds that it was a part of his mission from God.
The CofE’s disciplinary tribunal ‘completely rejected’ Baulcomb’s declare that taking medicine ‘assisted him in finishing up his pastoral mission’ (file pic)
Police discovered the medicine at Baulcomb’s £250,000 cottage close to Eastbourne in December 2022 (file pic)
Parishioners final week stood by their ex-priest. One mentioned he gave participating sermons.
One other mentioned: ‘He clearly wanted assist.’
Baulcomb was handed a everlasting ban from any place within the Church. It comes two months after former Co-op Financial institution boss Paul Flowers, an ex-minister nicknamed the Crystal Methodist for his drug use, admitted swindling a pal out of £100,000.
He faces jail when sentenced subsequent month.
