A UK church has paid £100,000 in a civil settlement to a woman who was sexually abused by her pastor and boss. The survivor, who wished to remain anonymous and was referred to as *Claire, shared her story exclusively with Premier Christianity magazine, calling on the Church to respond more faithfully when abuse occurs.
In 2002, Claire and her husband joined a new evangelical church that had opened in her hometown. She was in her early 20s, and shortly after graduating from university, she was offered a job at the church. She went on to work there for 13 years as office manager and personal assistant to the pastor.
She said what began as a relationship of mentorship and spiritual guidance gradually turned into manipulation, control and, from 2015 onwards, repeated sexual abuse. Claire said the pastor used scripture to justify his actions and continued his public ministry even while abusing her in secret.
She didn't tell anyone about the abuse for 18 months. “I had become manipulated into a place of secrecy and obedience,” she said. “I was convinced that if anyone found out, the church and both our families would fall apart, and I would be held responsible. The shame was too great”.
When Claire, now in her mid-40s, eventually tried to raise concerns, she said the leadership publicly reframed her disclosure as an “inappropriate relationship,” effectively minimising the abuse.
The church reached out to the Churches Child Protection Advisory Service (now thirtyone:eight), which advised them to report Claire’s disclosure to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), the body responsible for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. The LADO determined that the case “did not meet their thresholds” but recommended that Claire be encouraged to report it directly to the police. She said this guidance was never communicated to her. Instead, the church allowed the pastor to resign quietly, continuing to provide him with monthly payments for a period afterwards.
When Claire did try to build a criminal case, a 12-month police investigation failed to yield enough evidence for a prosecution. She then pursued a civil claim, which she said was not for financial gain, but for recognition of the abuse she had endured.
In September 2024, the church settled out of court for £100,000, stipulating the agreement be made “without admission of liability.” Claire said was devastated because she had hoped the settlement would compel the church to tell the truth.
Although later on, the church’s new leadership privately acknowledged Claire’s abuse and said it initiated changes to its leadership and safeguarding policies. However, it did not publicly name her or its own role in the matter.
Claire said such silence perpetuates harm, adding to survivors’ isolation and undermining trust in church institutions. She continues to challenge churches to do better. She said justice requires more than quiet settlements, and added that early accountability, transparent disclosures, and procedures that centre the survivor’s voice are imperative.
“True healing begins when the Church chooses truth over reputation,” she said.
Despite everything she endured, Claire has maintained her Christian faith, finding strength and hope in her relationship with God.
You can read Premier Christianity’s full article here, as well as Claire's story in her own words.
*Name changed. The church also remained unnamed at the survivor’s request.
