A DEVASTATED congregation are calling for their vicar to be reinstated following more than a year of absence.

Father Andrew Hawthorne has not been at St George’s Church since February last year following a number of incidents involving Christchurch’s Parochial Church Council (PCC) and the Diocese.

Mr Hawthorne was put on gardening leave until further notice, causing false rumours to spread and raising concern among regular churchgoers.

Disputes began in early 2011, when the congregation objected to St George’s Church being required to increase its contribution to parish funds by 95 per cent, from £13,000 to £25,529.

Parishioners asked Mr Hawthorne to tell the PCC they would not pay.

He did and from then on, parishioners say things went from bad to worse to the extent that Mr Hawthorne became ill in March 2011, and following his recovery, was not permitted to return to his church.

Sharon Duffield, a member of the congregation said: “This situation has become untenable.

“We’re just not being told anything. Emails and letters are not responded to.

“By their actions or lack of them over the past year it is clear that they have never wanted Father Andrew to return to his post, but they are not listening to the wishes of St George’s congregation.”

Despite being certified as fit after a medical assessment in May 2011, Mr Hawthorne was unable to raise a response from the clergy as to his situation and at the end of June 2011 he raised an official grievance.

Parishioners were told in July 2011, by the Bishop of Southampton, Jonathon Frost, that Mr Hawthorne’s “issues” would be resolved within weeks and that he had put in a grievance complaint because his terms of employment had not been agreed.

Under Mr Hawthorne, parishioners say the junior church was flourishing and the congregation growing.

He still attends services but is not allowed to conduct or preach.

Parishioner Iris Long added: “Nothing will drive him away from his church.

“You feel you can go to him with anything.”

Fellow church-goer Jill Barr added: “For more than 15 months we have been deprived of Father Andrew’s preaching.

“It’s not just us that are suffering without him, but it is also so unfair on him.

“With Andrew we’re a family.”

A spokesperson for the Diocese of Winchester said: “It would not be appropriate for us to comment on matters relating to the personal situation or working conditions of any individual.

“We will of course keep the parish informed with any updates, as and when it is appropriate to do so.”

Mr Hawthorne declined to comment due to the forthcoming grievance procedure.

Ongoing disputes with the PCC

DISPUTES between Father Andrew Hawthorne and Parochial Church Council began after Christchurch Priory agreed to rent a £2,000-a-month property in Southbourne for its vicar, the Rev Christopher Mann at the end of 2010.

Another house owned by the Priory in Magdalen Lane, was rejected by Mr Mann as it did not have three downstairs reception rooms.

After discussions between the Diocese and Priory churchwardens, it was decided the Priory would pay the shortfall of £345 while the Diocese agreed to increase its allowance to £1,650 per month.

Just a couple of months later, Mr Hawthorne was told that St George’s church’s share to the parish funds would have to be increased from £13,000 to £25,529.

Mr Mann said that he had nothing to add to the comments already submitted from the Diocese.