Following a high-profile drink-driving conviction, the Revd Sion Hughes Carew has resumed his clerical duties in West London. He will serve as a curate at St Michael and All Angels in Chiswick after crashing the Bishop of Lincoln's vehicle.
The £48,000 Kia Sportage and the "Vicar of Tiddly"
The Revd Sion Hughes Carew gained widespread notoriety following an incident in Lincoln where he collided with the Bishop of Lincoln's Kia Sportage. The vehicle, valued at approximately £48,000, was damaged during celebrations at the bishop's palace. As the report states,the crash occurred after Carew had been celebrating his birthday with Bishop Stephen Conway, leading to the priest being nicknamed the "Vicar of Tiddly."
The details of the collision were particularly striking; video footage reportedly showed the Kia traveling up a steep hill before rolling backward into a garden wall and railings. Carew was said to have been driving barefoot and was found to be three times over the legal alcohol limit. This incident resulted in a court fine and a two-year driving ban that began in March.
A new curacy at St Michael and All Angels
Carew has now transitioned to a new role as a curate at St Michael and All Angels, a Grade II listed church located in Chiswick. Curacy positions are a standard step for clergy early in their professional lives, providing experience before they eventually lead their own parishes.. He has been in the post for roughly two weeks and is tasked with assisting the senior vicar through preaching and pastoral visits.
Because the role does not include church-funded housing, Carew is understood to be residing with members of the Chiswick congregation. During his first service on August 9, he expressed gratitude to the parishioners for their hospitality, noting various social invitations ranging from theatre and opera to football matches.
Lincoln parishioners allege a "cover-up"
The move to London has not been without controversy, particularly among those connected to his former parish in Lincoln. One former parishioner has described the transition as a "cover-up," arguing that the drink-driving incident was not addressed with sufficient transparency or firmness. The critic suggested that Carew moved from his previous post into a new appointment without having to publicly face the full consequences of his actions.
While the former congregation was informed that Carew was leaving, they were reportedly not told he had secured another position. This lack of clarity was highlighted when a removals van was seen transferring his belongings from the All Saints vicarage in Lincoln to London on August 12. The acting Bishop of Lincoln,Nicholas Chamberlain, had previously acknowledged in an August 4 letter that the recent months had been difficult for the parish.
The limits of the Diocese of London's "safer recruitment"
According to a spokeswoman for the Diocese of London, the appointment was the result of careful consideration and followed "safer recruitment procedures ," including employment checks and references . The Diocese also noted that Carew received a Church of England penalty in addition to his legal sanctions and that extra training and support have been arranged to assist his return to ministry.
However, several specific details regarding this reintegration remain unverified. It is currently unknown what specific "extra training" has been implemented or how the Diocese intends to monitor its effectiveness. Additionally,the report does not clarify the exact nature of the internal Church of England penalty Carew received, leaving a gap in the public understanding of how the institution has addressed the misconduct.
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