The Bishop and the Chaplain

I speculated a fortnight ago that the former Bishop of Wellington had not just left the priesthood because he had separated from his wife, but that an affair was likely.

I was right, but it is even more complicated. His affair is with the married chaplain of Samuel Marsden.

The former head of the Anglican Church in Wellington surrendered his priesthood after he ran off with the wife of one of his fellow clergymen.

Sources have revealed Bishop Tom Brown, 69, voluntarily gave up his right to officiate last month after he split with his wife and then began a relationship with the chaplain of Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, the Rev Canon Kate Carey-Smith.

Carey-Smith resigned from her position at the school for “personal reasons” on August 3, Samuel Marsden Collegiate School principal Jenny Williams confirmed last week.

“We were very sad to see her go,” Williams said. She declined to comment further.

Carey-Smith was married to the Rev Chris Carey-Smith, the chaplain at St Mark’s Church School.

I wonder how many sermons on adultery the good Bishop delivered.