A new report has condemned the behaviour of a former Reverend who was opposed to women as vicars and homosexuality as ‘spiritual abuse’ spanning two decades. 

The Diocese of Oxford has published the findings of its review into the spiritual abuse perpetrated by late Reverend Michael Hall, including bullying and inappropriate behaviour that led to the mental breakdown of many of his victims.

Reverend Hall was in charge at St Margaret’s Church in Tylers Green from 1981 to 2000, during which he “spiritually abused a significant number of the congregation, and that he had engaged in sexual inappropriate behaviour with members of the congregation, which was witnessed by children and young people,” the report found.

The investigation was put in motion after a young man and a former member of the congregation during Reverend Hall’s time sadly committed suicide in January 2020.

Only days before his death, he had told a member of the clergy he was “suffering from depression as a result of not being able to move on from the trauma caused by Reverend Hall.”

Following a complaint by the current Vicar of St Margaret’s Church over Rev Hall’s past behaviour, the Diocese of Oxford launched a probe in January 2020 with a confidential helpline and meetings between the current Bishop of Buckingham and the victims.  

Reverend Hall died in June 2021 before responding to the allegations made against him.

Inappropriate sexual behaviour and intimidation 

 

His leadership at the village church was described as “akin to a cult” with Rev Hall creating dependency, isolation, entrapment and trauma, the report said.

With an intimidating presence and background in boxing, Reverend Hall reportedly threw parking cones at the police, punched the arm of a member of the congregation to stop them from leaving a service, other assaults and “threatening and intimidating” behaviour towards senior clergy.

He told a woman to “restart a relationship with a man who had domestically abused her.”

Young people witnessed Rev Hall and other members of the congregation take naked saunas and massaging each other during Rev Hall's “healing ministry” – a concept he used to normalise naked massage, saunas and nudity and the building of sauna at St Margaret’s Parish Rooms.

Some children saw him naked in their own homes and he didn’t try to cover himself up.

Others said Rev Hall “pinched their bottoms” when they were children.

His coercive behaviour led to breakdown of friendships and family relationships as Rev Hall told victims certain relationships with loved ones were not allowed.

His behaviour had devastating consequences for the survivors of the abuse, which “used coercion and control to silence dissent and isolate the congregation to make them dependent on him and to exploit them.”

As a result, they have experienced depression, PTSD, obsessive compulsive disorder, mental breakdown, psychosis, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts and self-harmed.

However, complaints and evidence about the abuse “did not prevent further abuse,” the report said.

Taking action against Rev Hall “impossible” at the time because lack of official complaints as people were afraid to go public, Rev Hall’s threats of litigation, he had managed to get the Parochial Church Council (PCC) on his side and lack of church legislation that would have allowed a bishop to take action when the PCC supported a vicar, the report said.

Since the shocking findings, both the Church of England and the Diocese of Oxford have made “significant changes” to improve prevention, reporting and responding to abuse, the report noted.

Still more work was needed to recognise and respond to spiritual abuse, including “raising awareness of spiritual abuse in church communities” and recognising its characteristics such as “psychological and emotional abuse, grooming, seduction, manipulation, the use of power and the creation of dependency.”

The Bishop of Buckingham Rt Revd Alan Wilson said: “I have heard stories that books weren’t allowed in the church, it was only the word of Michael Hall that carried weight. Anyone who didn't fit in was apparently bullied and cajoled by him until they did, or they walked away.

"Sexualised behaviour between some members of the congregation and Hall appears to have been witnessed by children and young people and then spiritualised by him as acceptable.

"The people I spoke to described feelings of being trapped and experiencing distorted family lives that persist to this day. I am in no doubt that what happened was wrong and I think that there can be no excuse for Halls actions. I am truly sorry for what happened here in Tyler’s Green."

If you have been affected by the themes and issues in the story and want to talk to someone independently, you can call the Safe Spaces helpline on 0200 303 1030.

To contact a member of the diocese team directly, please email safeguardingreferrals@oxford.anglican.org.