Churches support vicar's family

Father Paul Bennett's funeral is to take place next week

Churches across the UK are taking collections for the family of the Cynon Valley vicar who was killed in his church's grounds two weeks ago.

A memorial fund is being set up after Father Paul Bennett, 59, died at Trecynon near Aberdare.

His wife Georgina, son, daughter and grandson have said they no longer wish to remain at St Fagan's vicarage.

Archbishop Barry Morgan said the church has been "inundated" with offers of help from across the UK.

"Some people - even without waiting for a fund to be opened - have sent cheques here," he said.

The question is how can we help them in finding somewhere else where they want to live Archbishop Barry Morgan

He added that when he spoke to Father Bennett's family about setting up the memorial fund they were at first doubtful about the idea.

"I had to say to them 'Look, people do want to tangibly support you'.

"It was only when they said to me 'Well, I suppose in similar circumstances we would want to do the same' that they've agreed to this".

A special collection will be taken at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff on Maundy Thursday for the Bennetts. A church in Woking in Surrey is also doing a collection.

Father Bennett and his family had lived at the Trecynon vicarage for four years.

Delicate circumstances

A new parish priest will now be appointed and the Bennett family will eventually leave their home, but Archbishop Morgan said he had made it clear that there is "absolutely no pressure as far as the Church in Wales is concerned".

"But, of course, as they've said to me "we want to get out of here because this is where the stabbing took place" and so they don't want to remain there for a long time," he said.

"The question is how can we help them in finding somewhere else where they want to live."

A separate statement for the Church in Wales said they would do "everything they could" to help Father Bennett's family and it could be months before they were required to move out.

The statement added: "These are extremely unusual and delicate circumstances and the church is hugely sympathetic to their needs and will given them all the sufficient time they need.

"We have schemes and funds available to help them in every which way we can."

Hundreds of people are expected at St Fagan's Church on Tuesday for the funeral requiem mass for Father Bennett.

A 23-year-old local man, David Geraint Evans, has been charged with Father Bennett's murder on 14 March and remains in custody.