Ray Lewis rubbishes misconduct claims
Updated on 03 July 2008
The deputy mayor of London, Ray Lewis, says claims of misconduct are"rubbish" and denies ever knowing that the church had suspended him as a priest.
London's deputy mayor, Ray Lewis faces an independent probe into claims of misconduct.
Describing the claims as "utter rubbish", Mr Lewis told this programme the Church of England had never told him he'd been suspended as a priest, despite the Bishop of Chelmsford telling this programme that Ray Lewis had been put under Church of England disciplinary proceedings in 1999.
The bishop also said that his ministry should be restricted because, he said, "a misdemeanour of such seriousness had been committed"
Boris Johnson announced the inquiry this afternoon, stemming from Mr Lewis's time as a vicar and as head of a youth scheme based in east London.
But this programme can reveal the claims involve alleged financial as well as sexual misconduct. Mr Lewis has strongly denied them and no criminal charges have ever been brought.
Watch the Ray Lewis interview
Deputy Mayor of London Ray Lewis speaks to Jon Snow about the allegations of misconduct he faces.
Ray Lewis interview
Statement from The Bishop of Chelmsford, The Right Reverend John Gladwin
"Ray Lewis, London's Deputy Mayor for Young People, was ordained in the Church of England in 1990, and served in the parish of St Matthew, West Ham in the diocese of Chelmsford between 1993 - 1997.
"After this date, he moved to Grenada in the diocese of the Windward Islands, where he ministered until 1999, after which he resigned from ministry altogether.
"Between 1999 and 2005 Ray was placed under the formal disciplinary structures of the Church of England, and his ministry was restricted. This was because a misdemeanour of such seriousness had been committed that in the opinion of the Archbishop, the person concerned should not exercise his ministry for the time being.
"The diocese of Chelmsford is happy to co-operate with the Inquiry which is being set up by the Mayor of London."
