Newcastle Anglicans Come To Terms With Arrest Of Former Dean Of Christ Chrurch Cathedral

BY IAN CROUCH

Members of the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle are still coming to terms with the arrest of former Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Graeme Lawrence.

Officers from Strike Force Arinya went to the 75-year-old's Kotara home on Tuesday and took him to Waratah Police Station where he was charged with sexually abusing a 15-year-old boy in 1991.

Graeme Lawrence served as Dean of the Cathedral for 24 years from 1984 until 2008, but was defrocked in 2012 following a church disciplinary hearing.

In an email sent to members of the church on Tuesday night, Dean Katherine Bowyer acknowledged Lawrence's arrest would raise concerns for parishioners.

A special pastoral meeting has been arranged to support church members.

Former Dean of Christ Church Cathedral Graeme Lawrence picture: theherald.com.au

Graeme Lawrence Giving Evidence At The Royal Commission Into Child Sex Abuse In The Anglican Diocese Of Newcastle. Picture ABC

Former Anglican Priest Charged over Alleged Sexual Assault of 15yo

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A former senior Anglican priest has been charged with the alleged sexual assault of a then 15-year-old boy in 1991.

Following a referral from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse to Newcastle Police on the matter in 2016, Strike Force Arinya was formed to investigate the allegations.

Investigations led strike force officers to a Kotara home where they arrested a 75-year-old man just before 8:30am.

He was taken to Waratah Police Station and charged with four counts of aggravated sexual assault and aggravated indecent assault.

He was granted conditional bail and fronts Newcastle Local Court on December 7.