The heir to the Colman’s mustard dynasty and his wife, a member of the clergy, have been asked by the Church of England to step back from their roles in a Hampshire church after being named in a damning report on a sadistic abuser.
Sir Jamie Colman has been asked to cease his volunteering activities at St Leonard’s church, Oakley, and the Rev Sue Colman has been asked to step back from all ministerial duties by the diocese of Winchester.
According to a report, the couple financially supported John Smyth, a powerful and charismatic barrister who sadistically beat boys and young men, despite knowing of the allegations about his abuse.
Colman became chair of the Zambesi Trust UK, a charity that channelled funds to Smyth after he moved to southern Africa, and the couple sought to persuade others to support him. They visited Christian camps in Zimbabwe run by Smyth and stayed with the abuser and his wife.
A report by Keith Makin on Smyth’s abuse and its cover-up said Colman was “very closely associated with John Smyth” and that his “personal support for John Smyth and his family was very important in enabling John Smyth to develop his mission in Zimbabwe”.
Since inheriting the baronetcy from his father last year, Colman has headed a family trust that oversees £9m of investments.
A statement from the diocese of Winchester said it had asked Sue Colman “to step back from all ministerial duties while we reflect on the review’s findings and work with the national safeguarding team to take steps to manage any associated risk”.
Jamie Colman had “no official ministerial position in our diocese but has also been asked to step back from volunteering”, the statement said.
It said Philip Mounstephen, the bishop of Winchester, had “made it clear that all failures in safeguarding should be treated with the utmost seriousness, whether locally or nationally, and that the response to those failures should be proportionate and appropriate.”
Meanwhile, a former member of the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) has said it is “unconscionable” that a retired clergyman who the report said probably knew of Smyth’s abuse but failed to take action could be part of the selection process for the next archbishop of Canterbury.
The Rev Andrew Cornes is among a panel of 11 members of the C of E’s ruling body, the General Synod, from whom six will be chosen to sit on the committee that appoints Justin Welby’s successor.
Anthony Archer, who sat on the CNC for five years, told the Guardian: “It is unconscionable that Andrew Cornes remained a member of the CNC, but this is a matter for the bishop of Chichester and the archbishops’ secretary for appointments, Stephen Knott. He should of course just resign.”
A spokesperson for the diocese of Chichester said they could not comment while the findings of the Makin report were being reviewed by the C of E’s national safeguarding team to see if further action needs to be taken.
Comment has been sought from the archbishops’ secretary for appointments. Colman’s mustard is now owned by Unilever.
