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An Anglican priest who died after an evening of intercourse and medicines with a Belgian colleague has been named, MailOnline can reveal.
Father Andrew Wagstaff, 69, had spent the night along with his fellow cleric at a rectory close to Antwerp, and after taking ecstasy and ‘poppers’ collectively and having intercourse, he immediately felt unwell, prosecutors mentioned.
The Church of England priest, ordained 30 years in the past, was the much-loved chaplain of St Boniface Church, Antwerp, till retiring earlier this 12 months to stay close to Ilkley, West Yorks.
The circumstances of his demise have forged a shadow over his life within the church, notably as Fr Wagstaff’s return to Belgium was timed to coincide with the go to of the Pope there final weekend.
Father Wagstaff and his pal, recognized solely as ‘Pastor B’, spent the night at a rectory in Kalmthout, north of Antwerp, on Thursday, and he died within the early hours of Friday.
Father Andrew Wagstaff (pictured), 69, reportedly died after allegedly having drug-fuelled intercourse with a Belgian priest
The Church of England priest, ordained 30 years in the past, was the much-loved chaplain of St Boniface Church, Antwerp, till retiring earlier this 12 months to stay close to Ilkley, West Yorks
In an announcement, the Church of England’s Diocese in Europe instructed MailOnline: ‘Now we have been knowledgeable of the demise of The Reverend Andrew Wagstaff within the space of Antwerp on Friday 27 September 2024.
‘Fr. Wagstaff retired as Chaplain at St. Boniface, Antwerp on 30 April 2023 after 17 years and had been dwelling within the UK for the previous 12 months.
‘Our prayers are along with his mates, household and members of his former congregation.’
On Fb, a US-based organist Jimmy Culp, posted: ‘I discovered late final night time of the demise of my pal Fr Andrew Wagstaff in England. I solicit your prayers for the Repose of his Soul.’
The alarm was raised shortly after midnight on Friday when Fr Wagstaff’s pal, recognized solely as Pastor B, known as the emergency companies, who couldn’t resuscitate his companion.
The sudden arrest of the pastor, visiting colleagues because the Pope travelled by means of Belgium, left the small parish of Heide in shock, in accordance with native media.
‘It seems that the 2 males had used ecstasy and poppers collectively and had had intercourse,’ the prosecutor’s workplace revealed on Saturday.
Father Wagstaff and his pal, recognized solely as ‘Pastor B’, spent the night at a rectory in Kalmthout, north of Antwerp, on Thursday, and he died within the early hours of Friday
The ex-priest was visiting St. Joseph’s Church (pictured), the parish church in Heide, when the incident occurred
Mr Wagstaff fell unwell after allegedly taking medication on the church’s rectory (pictured)
Amyl nitrite, or ‘poppers’, may be inhaled to trigger a short rush of euphoria and dizziness (File)
‘Two ecstasy drugs have been additionally discovered,’ they mentioned..
Poppers refers to amyl nitrite, a liquid compound that may be inhaled for a short rush of delicate euphoria and dizziness.
‘Traces of narcotics have been discovered on the sufferer’s physique,’ Kristof Aerts of the Antwerp public prosecutor’s workplace mentioned.
An preliminary urine check confirmed ecstasy had been taken, however an post-mortem might be required to show reason behind demise.
An investigation was ongoing and the preliminary post-mortem couldn’t instantly present any conclusive info into the precise reason behind the demise, the workplace added.
The 60-year-old priest was questioned by the investigating decide on Friday and gave an announcement.
The general public prosecutor revealed solely that ‘some parts of his assertion require additional investigation’.
He was later positioned underneath arrest, and is now dealing with fees of ‘trafficking in narcotics leading to demise’.
Father Wagstaff had reportedly been visiting colleagues to coincide with the Pope’s four-day go to to Belgium late final week.
In 2010, the Rev Wagstaff was appointed chaplain of St Boniface in Antwerp, working underneath Archdeacon John de Wit, primarily based within the Netherlands.
His duties as Space Dean included chairing the Anglican Council for Belgium, roughly equal to a Deanery Synod.
Pope Francis concluded his weekend journey to Belgium on Sunday after dealing with a few of the strongest criticism but levied throughout a overseas go to.
Pope Francis travelled to Belgium this weekend, the place he confronted a few of his sharpest criticism
The Pontiff, 87, prepares to fly again to Rome after a four-day journey to Luxembourg and Belgium
In a gathering with Belgian dignitaries on Friday, each King Philippe and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo known as for extra concrete motion to assist survivors of abuse by Catholic clergy.
And in later occasions at two Catholic universities, officers denounced his stance on the function of ladies within the church and society.
Francis didn’t particularly point out the criticisms at his final occasion in Belgium on Sunday, a celebration of Mass at Brussels’ King Baudouin soccer stadium.
However the pope did add to the ready textual content for his sermon and made a robust condemnation of Catholic clergy abuse.
‘There isn’t any place for abuse,’ the pontiff mentioned, drawing scattered applause from the estimated 37,000 attendees.
‘There isn’t any place for the cover-up of abuse. I ask everybody, don’t cowl up abuse. I ask bishops, don’t cowl up abuse’.
The Pope additionally confronted scrutiny on Saturday as he addressed an viewers at UCLouvain.
Professors and college students issued a press launch moments after he completed talking, saying they wished to precise their ‘disapproval’ of his views.
The pope’s speech on the college largely known as for world motion on local weather change, however he additionally responded to a letter to him from college students and professors that had requested concerning the Catholic Church’s instructing on girls.
Francis emphasised that the church, which bans ordination of ladies to the priesthood, was not run like an organization. He described girls as having ‘a fertile welcome, care (and) very important devotion’.
