ANTHONY PIERCE SENTENCED IN SWANSEA FOR CHILD ABUSE AT BRECON AND SWANSEA CHURCHES
2026-02-27 11:41: WALES NEWS SERVICE) A former bishop was appointed to senior roles within the Church in Wales despite allegations of sexual abuse being made against him, a review has found.Anthony Pierce, 85, who was bishop of Swansea and Brecon between 1999 and 2008, was jailed last year for sexually abusing a boy.
He pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault on a male child under the age of 16, committed while he was a parish priest in Swansea in the 1980s.
The Church in Wales commissioned a review last year into Pierce and how claims against him had been handled.
The review found that senior clergy had been aware of sexual abuse allegations against him when he was appointed Archdeacon of Gower in 1995 and then Bishop of Swansea and Brecon in 1999.
These allegations, which were alleged to have occurred in around 1990 against a teenage boy, were not reported to the police until 2010, by which time the victim had died.
Police subsequently took no further action.
Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter In the report author Gabrielle Higgins said "various individuals" from the Church in Wales knew of a safeguarding concern in respect of Pierce on four occasions between 1993 and 2016.
"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," she said.
Anthony Pierce pictured here in 2002 alongside Prince William View 2 Images Anthony Pierce pictured here in 2002 alongside Prince William (Image: WALES NEWS SERVICE) Get More of Our News on Google Set Wales Online as a 'Preferred Source' to get quicker access to the news you value.
Four Archbishops of Wales including Dr Rowan Williams, who later became the Archbishop of Canterbury, were referred to in the report.
The report said Dr Williams had been given by his predecessor a handwritten report prepared in 1999 by a friend of Pierce – that included the "apparent admission of a criminal offence" – when he became Archbishop of Wales, although he did not read it.
"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," Ms Higgins said.
"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." Reacting to the report, the current Archbishop of Wales, The Rt Revd Cherry Vann, apologised to anyone who has been "failed by the Church in the past".
"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," the archbishop said.
"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.
"I welcome and fully accept the review's findings and recommendations, and we are implementing all the changes that need to be made." The Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, the Rt Revd John Lomas, added: "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.
"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.
"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." --------------------------- 2025-03-21 20:04: The 84-year-old former bishop of Swansea and Brecon has been sentenced to over four years in prison after admitting to multiple counts of indecent assault on a minor.
The court proceedings took place at Swansea Crown Court, where Anthony Pierce pleaded guilty to five separate charges of indecent assault involving a boy under the age of 16.
These disturbing acts occurred during Pierce's tenure as a vicar in Swansea, several years prior to his appointment as the bishop of the Swansea and Brecon diocese in 1999.
The victim, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, was only 14 years old at the time of the abuse.
Prosecutor Dean Pulling emphasized that Pierce, as a trusted religious figure, was responsible for the care and guidance of the victim.
The victim, who has since come forward in 2023, described feeling intense embarrassment and shame about the incidents.
He also expressed fears about how his parents might react if the abuse were to become known.
It was revealed during the court hearing that an earlier allegation of sexual abuse by Pierce had been reported to senior church officials in 1993.
However, police were not informed of this allegation until 2010, by which time the victim had tragically passed away.
The court heard that Pierce denied any responsibility during police interviews, claiming he had no sexual attraction towards children.
Defense attorney Heath Edwards stated that Pierce
