Man arrested in connection with vicar murder

Reverend Jon Suddards was found dead at his home on Tuesday morning, when workmen arrived to find the building locked.

Avon and Somerset Police have arrested a 43-year-old man on suspicion of the murder.

Detective Inspector Simon Crisp, who is leading the investigation, confirmed that Mr Suddards suffered multiple stab wounds and that the police are treating the death as murder. He said that the 59-year-old reverend had not lived in the village for long, and that police “do not have a good understanding of his friends and family at the moment”.

He appealed for anyone who attended the church and who knew the vicar, to come forward:

“In particular I would be keen to speak to anybody who saw the reverend after 12.30pm on Monday,” DCI Crisp added. “Please don’t let it rest on your conscience if you know something and you haven’t told us, however small.”

The Archdeacon of Gloucester, Geoffrey Sidaway, said that Mr Suddard was “a person who cared deeply for people”, and added that the death highlights the “vulnerable nature of ministry in some of our parishes today”.

“Many clergy on a daily basis open their homes and their churches to people. Clearly that can put them in a vulnerable situation,” he added.

Many clergy on a daily basis open their homes and their churches to people. Clearly that can put them in a vulnerable situation. Geoffrey Sidaway, Archdeacon of Gloucester

The Bishop of Tewkesbury, John Went, spoke on Wednesday at a packed Eucharist service at St Paul’s – Thornbury’s other church. He told parishioners that they were “part of a fallen humanity where tragic events happen”.

“It’s good to come and share with you this morning in the eucharist as we come to terms with tragedy,” he said.

“Our hearts very much go out to you as a church community and a wider community that will be stunned at this time and will have so much to come to terms with over the coming months and indeed years.”

A call to serve

Mr Suddards had worked as a barrister for years until he was in a major car accident that left him paraplegic for nine months.

Following the accident he felt a call from God and became a priest, he told the Braintree and Witham Times.

The vicar came to Thornbury from St Nicholas Church in Essex, where he had worked since 2001.

The close-knit Thornbury community of an estimated 1,200 people are reportedly shocked by the news.

Jacqueline Pillinger, 68, whose daughter works near the vicarage, said she understood that Mr Suddards lived alone there. “This area is lovely,” she said. “I’m very surprised anything like this has happened.”

A spokesman for the C of E said the church is “deeply concerned” about attacks on clergy and their families: “Clergy inevitably work alone in the course of their ministry and come into contact with members of the public.”

While the risk of violence is relatively low, “parish work often takes dedicated clergy into areas of vulnerability, and occasionally conflict,” he added.

‘Faithful, good humoured and energetic’

The Right Reverend Christopher Morgan, Bishop of Colchester also paid tribute to Mr Suddards.

“For ten years until last June, John was the faithful, good humoured and energetic Team Rector of Witham and Rural Dean of the area too,” he said.

“Very many people – myself certainly included – will therefore have been grateful not only for John’s pastoral ministry but also for his human friendship. He has been cruelly snatched away: may he now rest in peace and rise to glory.”

Mr Suddards officiated at the marriage of the daughter of Braintree councillor Phil Barlow a week before leaving Essex for his new parish.

Mr Barlow told the Colchester Gazette: “I am very saddened. He will be missed by my whole family and everyone who knew him. It is a tragedy.”

Biography – John Suddards

89-93 Curate, Halstead St Andrew with Holy Trinity and Greenstead Green
93-97 Priest-in-charge, Great with Little Yeldham
93-97 Priest-in-charge, Toppesfield and Stambourne
97-01 Rector, Upper Colne
98-01 Rural Dean, Hinckford
01-11 Team Rector, Witham
07-11 Rural Dean, Witham
11-12 Vicar, Thornbury and Oldbury-on-Severn