'Swinger' claim vicar defrocked

A vicar who told colleagues she was a swinger and conducted church services while drunk has been banned from religious roles for at least 12 years.

A Church of England tribunal in London found the Reverend Teresa Davies guilty of "conduct unbecoming to holy orders".

Complaints were made against the ex-vicar of Daventry, Northamptonshire.

She admitted a drink problem, regretted not seeking help and, despite denying it, said her and her husband's names on a swingers' website were correct.

Two clerics told the tribunal Mrs Davies had said at a Christmas lunch in 2006 that she and her husband were swingers.

Mrs Davies claimed she was being "laddish" and wanted to be shocking. She also said she had not had a relationship outside her marriage, but later withdrew both claims.

She blamed a drink problem for her troubles and said it had become a "self-destruct mechanism".

She said that she and her husband had spent holidays without their children in a South of France location noted for "the casual exchange of sexual partners".

'Christian behaviour'

The tribunal also heard claims she had been drunk at four separate church services she was conducting as part of a ministry team in Daventry in 2006.

She had smelled of alcohol, been unsteady on her feet on one occasion and on another did not know the order of service, the tribunal heard.

It had been proved Mrs Davies was drunk on three of the four occasions, the tribunal concluded.

She was banned by the tribunal from taking any clergy role for at least 12 years but she had officially resigned in August this year.

A spokesman for the Diocese of Peterborough said he hoped she and her family would be able to "move on in their lives".

"It is always a matter of regret when any clergy fail to set an example of Christian behaviour in word and deed.

"We are very sorry that Teresa Davies has failed to set such an example."