Community's fight to save historical graded church
Brindle St Joseph's, near Preston, is one of England's oldest Roman Catholic churches and is due to close later this year.
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CBC
a day ago
- CBC
79-year-old retired priest charged in P.E.I. with sex-related offences from the late 1980s
Rev. Brendon Gallant served more than 15 Roman Catholic parishes on P.E.I. before he retired. Now he's facing charges that go back to the late 1980s, allegedly involving sexual misconduct against a minor. The CBC's Nicola MacLeod explains.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Retired P.E.I. Catholic priest facing historical sex-related charges
A retired Roman Catholic priest on Prince Edward Island is facing sex-related charges that go back to the late 1980s. RCMP began an investigation that led to charges being laid against Rev. Brendon Earl Gallant, 79, after the alleged victim came forward two years ago. He made his first appearance in provincial court in Georgetown on May 22. Proceedings were adjourned to give him time to get a lawyer. None of the allegations have been proven in court and Gallant has not yet entered any pleas. The charges filed in Kings County include sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching, and cite a single victim who was under the age of 14 at the time of the alleged offences. The location cited in the documents was St. Margaret's, one of the many communities Gallant served over his time in the priesthood. Diocese posts statement "The Diocese of Charlottetown has learned that a retired priest made an appearance in court recently where he faced charges related to sexual offences involving a minor," the diocese wrote in a statement posted to its website. "We can confirm the priest is not in active ministry. We invite prayers for all affected by this news. We are committed to ensuring our churches are safe environments." Gallant also served as a priest at Catholic churches in Cardigan, Little Pond, St. Georges, Georgetown, Souris, Charlottetown, Glenwood, Brae, Alberton, Bloomfield, Foxley River, St. Charles and Burton before retiring after his last posting in Tignish in 2018. The list is long because some Catholic priests on P.E.I. are responsible for multiple smaller communities at the same time, driving among them for weekend Mass and other services. In an email correspondence with CBC News, the chancellor of the Diocese of Charlottetown, Fr. Chris Sherren, said they learned about the charges the day before Gallant's first appearance. However, he said the diocese had been aware Gallant might be under investigation. "We knew it involved potential sexual misconduct, so we immediately removed him from active ministry as a precaution while we waited to see what would happen with the investigation," Sherren wrote. Sherren also confirmed Gallant was a priest in Kings County during the time frame covered by the allegations. The chancellor said the specific allegations were a surprise to him. In the statement posted to the diocese website, officials said the organization has a safe environment policy and anyone who wishes to report misconduct by a member of the clergy, lay staff or volunteer should call the diocese office or report directly to police. No other known victims In response to a request from CBC News, the P.E.I. RCMP issued a news release late Friday afternoon. "Any time there is a crime of this nature, there is always the concern that there are other victims. At this stage, we have no information showing other incidents," Cpl. Gavin Moore said in the release. "A sexual assault complaint can be made at any time, and there is no statute of limitations as to how far back the assault happened."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Grand Wiltshire home of former Prime Minister gets top award
A former Prime Minister's home has been been recognised as one of the top visitor attractions in the country. Arundells, the former home of Conservative leader Sir Edward Heath, has been awarded VisitEngland's Quality Assured Visitor Attraction status. The historic house, located in Cathedral Close, Salisbury, was given an overall quality score of 86 per cent following its first inspection by VisitEngland. The house was described as "unexpectedly captivating" with a "refreshingly personal and authentic" atmosphere and "immersive charm." Read more: Why Thames Water was hit with record breaking fine by Ofwat The volunteers were also praised for their warmth and knowledge. The report also highlighted the well-maintained gardens, preserved interiors, and the unique opportunity to step into the private world of one of Britain's former Prime Ministers. Luke Futcher, events and marketing manager at Arundells, said: "We are delighted to receive this national recognition from VisitEngland. "It reflects the care and commitment of our staff and volunteers, and the distinctive, high-quality experience we strive to offer every visitor." This recognition adds to a successful year for Arundells. Earlier in 2025, the house achieved Arts Council England Accredited Museum status, and in the spring, it won the Visitor Experience Award at the Salisbury Business Excellence Awards. Arundells was originally a medieval canonry, with the first recorded occupant being Henry of Blunston, Archdeacon of Dorset, who lived there from 1291 until his death in 1316. The house has seen many occupants over the centuries, including Leonard Bilson, who was pilloried and imprisoned for acts of sorcery and magic in 1571, and Sir Richard Mompesson, who undertook major restoration works in 1609. The name "Arundells" comes from James Everard Arundell, son of the 6th Lord Arundell, who married John Wyndham's daughter, Ann. The Arundells were a distinguished Roman Catholic family. Read more: Building 700 homes at old golf course 'best option' for the area Arundells hosted the Godolphin Girls School (and later a boys boarding school) between 1839 and 1844. During the Second World War, the house was used by the Red Cross as a centre for their library service and as a wool depot. The property fell into disrepair and demolition was considered following a long period of neglect. Extensive refurbishment works were undertaken by Mr and Mrs Robert Hawkings in 1964. Sir Edward Heath, who lived at Arundells from 1985 until his death in 2005, bequeathed the house to the Charitable Foundation set up in his name. He wanted as many people as possible to "share the beauty of Arundells" and enjoy his diverse and personal collection of artwork, photographs, sailing memorabilia and political cartoons.
