Former Soul Survivor pastor Andy Croft is set to start a new season as he joins the leadership team of a church in Edinburgh.
According to an update sent to church members and shared with Premier, Croft has been appointed as associate rector of St Paul's and St George's Church (Ps & Gs), and will start off his new role in the summer.
In a statement to Premier, a spokesperson for St Paul's and St George's church confirmed the appointment, highlighting “a full and rigorous process” had taken place for the selection and it involved “many people praying and discerning who God was calling as our Associate Rector”.
“We are confident that we have found the right person and are excited at what Andy Croft will bring to us - as a church and as a staff team. The Staffing Group and Vestry have prayed and discussed the appointment and are agreed that this is where God has led us,” the statement continued.
Croft, who joined Soul Survivor Watford in 2004 as Pilavachi’s intern, was initially suspended from his leadership role under HR processes during the safeguarding investigation launched into Soul Survivor founder Mike Pilavachi in April last year. The investigation report, published in September, found Croft had failed to act on three separate occasions where allegations had been made.
At the time, Croft told Premier he was “sorry” that his actions had “contributed in any way to the pain others are experiencing” and shared he had also been “deeply affected personally by Mike’s behaviour”.
Two months later, all three instances were dismissed, and the Diocese of St Albans approved his return to ministry. However, he decided not to return to his senior role, citing the need for his family to “process much of what we have been through over these past years” and feeling they could only do so “by stepping away".
Fiona Scolding KC is leading an independent review of the safeguarding allegations against Mike Pilavachi and the culture at Soul Survivor Watford.
St Paul's and St George's Church’s statement concluded: “Andy released a statement in November 2023 to Soul Survivor Watford. At this time, he will not be making any further statement.
“As indicated by Andy’s statement, he will continue to develop personally and professionally. This is an expectation we have of all our staff, and we will support Andy in that.
“Ps & Gs, and Andy, are fully supportive of the independent review that is underway by Fiona Scolding KC and we look forward to its findings.”
Reporting by Kelly Valencia and Megan Cornwell.
To hear more on the allegations facing Soul Survivor and its founder, Mike Pilavachi, check out Premier's Soul Survivors podcast.
