Key Points
- Anthony Pierce, former Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, was promoted to high-ranking positions in 1995 and 1999 despite known safeguarding concerns over allegations of sexually abusing a boy in the 1980s.
- Pierce, aged 85, pleaded guilty last year to five counts of indecent assault and is serving a prison sentence.
- An independent review by Gabrielle Higgins concluded that senior clergy knew of sexual abuse allegations against Pierce on four occasions between 1993 and 2016 but failed to act appropriately.
- Allegations involved a teenage boy, described as 15 or 16 years old, around 1990; they were not reported to police until 2010, after the victim had died, leading to no further police action.
- Four Archbishops of Wales, including Dr Rowan Williams (later Archbishop of Canterbury), were referenced; Dr Williams received a 1999 handwritten report with an apparent admission of a criminal offence but did not read it.
- Current Archbishop of Wales, The Rt Revd Cherry Vann, apologised for past failures and committed to implementing the review’s recommendations.
- Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, the Rt Revd John Lomas, expressed unreserved apologies and determination to prevent future issues.
- Pierce has been deposed from holy orders and is no longer a priest since his jailing.
Swansea (The Wales Times) February 26, 2026 – The Church in Wales elevated Anthony Pierce to the rank of bishop despite senior leaders being aware of safeguarding concerns over allegations of child sexual abuse, an independent review has concluded. Pierce, the former Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, is currently serving a prison sentence after pleading guilty last year to five counts of indecent assault on a boy while working as a priest in the 1980s. The review, authored by Gabrielle Higgins, exposes a catalogue of institutional failures spanning decades, including missed opportunities to report allegations to authorities.
What did the independent review conclude about Anthony Pierce’s promotions?
The review was launched to scrutinise how the Church in Wales handled – and failed to handle – claims against the 85-year-old Pierce. As detailed in the report, senior clergy were aware of sexual abuse allegations when Pierce was appointed Archdeacon of Gower in 1995 and then Bishop of Swansea and Brecon in 1999. These allegations reportedly occurred around 1990 and involved a teenage boy.
Gabrielle Higgins, the independent author of the review, stated: “various individuals” from the Church in Wales knew of a safeguarding concern in respect of Pierce on four occasions between 1993 and 2016. She added:
“At no point did anyone know what it was alleged Pierce had done, merely that it was sexual and involved a boy variously described as 15 or 16 years old.”
The allegations were not reported to the police until 2010, by which time the victim had died. Police subsequently took no further action. Higgins’ findings highlight that despite these known concerns, Pierce’s high-ranking appointments proceeded unchecked.
Why were the sex abuse allegations not reported to police earlier?
The review reveals a timeline of inaction. The safeguarding concerns first surfaced in the early 1990s but were not escalated to law enforcement for nearly two decades. As reported across multiple sources covering the Higgins review, the Church’s response was characterised by “harmful assumptions and inadequate processes.”
No specific journalist attribution is tied to the initial police non-reporting in the core coverage, but the review itself notes the 2010 report came too late, post-victim’s death. This delay underscores broader institutional shortcomings, with senior figures aware yet failing to probe deeper or involve authorities promptly.
Which senior Church leaders knew about the safeguarding concerns?
Four Archbishops of Wales were referred to in the report, including Dr Rowan Williams, who later became Archbishop of Canterbury. The report states Dr Williams was given a handwritten report prepared in 1999 by a friend of Pierce – containing an “apparent admission of a criminal offence” – by his predecessor when he became Archbishop of Wales. However, he did not read it.
Gabrielle Higgins commented on this:
“While he had been made aware many years previously that some sort of allegation had been made, he did not understand that it was a legal or criminal matter, there is no indication that he was told it involved a child.”
She further noted:
“I do not consider it was unreasonable not to have read it in circumstances where it was a 30-page handwritten document, with very little relevant information which would not spring out on a quick glance, and no apparent briefing on it.”
The other three Archbishops are not named individually in the provided coverage, but the review collectively implicates them in awareness of the concerns between 1993 and 2016. Coverage from outlets like The Wales Times emphasises that “various individuals” at senior levels had knowledge on multiple occasions without decisive action.
How has the current Archbishop of Wales responded to the report?
Reacting to the findings, the current Archbishop of Wales, The Rt Revd Cherry Vann, issued a full apology. As quoted directly in reports from The Wales Times and aligned sources, she said:
“The review shows in painful detail the missed opportunities, the harmful assumptions and the inadequate processes which characterised the Church’s response to these allegations of abuse for far too long.”
She continued:
“This catalogue of failures can only be a source of shame for the Church and will have caused further trauma to abuse victims and their families. While the safeguarding processes of the Church in Wales have improved immeasurably since the periods covered by the review, there is no room for complacency, and we are committed to ensuring that our processes always follow current best practice.”
Archbishop Vann added:
“I welcome and fully accept the review’s findings and recommendations, and we are implementing all the changes that need to be made.”
Her statement apologises to anyone “failed by the Church in the past” and pledges ongoing vigilance.
What did the Bishop of Swansea and Brecon say about the institutional failings?
The current Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, the Rt Revd John Lomas, also addressed the report’s revelations. He stated:
“The trauma experienced by victims of abuse within the Church is made all the worse by the breach of trust they have suffered, and, as this review has shown, by the failings of the Church as an institution.”
Bishop Lomas emphasised:
“While nothing can undo the wrongs of the past, and while we can only apologise unreservedly for the failings this review has brought to light, we hope that this review will go some way towards showing our determination to be clear and robust in ensuring these issues can never happen again.”
He concluded:
“It is only through doing the right thing that we can begin to restore confidence in the Church, and the publication of this review, and our commitment to the actions arising from it, shows that we are resolved to do that.”
These remarks, attributed across Welsh media coverage, reflect a commitment to reform.
What is Anthony Pierce’s current status in the Church?
Since Pierce was jailed following his guilty plea to five counts of indecent assault last year, he has been deposed from holy orders and is no longer a priest. The review confirms his appointments in 1995 (Archdeacon of Gower) and 1999 (Bishop of Swansea and Brecon) occurred despite the concerns, but his clerical status has been revoked post-conviction.
Gabrielle Higgins’ report provides the definitive account, noting the 1980s abuse as a priest and the subsequent promotions amid unresolved allegations from around 1990.
What recommendations has the review made, and how will the Church implement them?
While specific recommendations are not detailed verbatim in the initial coverage, Archbishop Vann has pledged full implementation, stating the Church welcomes and accepts all findings. The review criticises past processes, urging alignment with “current best practice” in safeguarding. Bishop Lomas echoed this resolve to be “clear and robust.”
Media reports, including those from The Wales Times, frame the publication as a step toward restoring trust, with the Church committing to act on every point raised by Higgins.
Why does this scandal matter for the Church in Wales today?
This case exemplifies systemic issues in handling abuse allegations within religious institutions, mirroring wider UK inquiries into church safeguarding. The promotion of Pierce despite known risks eroded victim trust and delayed justice. As Higgins notes, awareness existed without specifics on the abuse, yet no barriers prevented his rise.
Current leaders‘ apologies signal reform, but the report’s exposure – covered extensively in Welsh press – demands accountability. It highlights progress in modern processes while shaming historical lapses.
The full Higgins review, referenced uniformly across sources, ensures transparency, with no deviations in key facts. This incident, unfolding over decades, underscores the need for vigilance in safeguarding vulnerable individuals.
