It was in December 2004, that Michael Higginbottom was mysteriously withdrawn from his church in Darlington. Seven years on and his parish – little the wiser for the reasons behind it – continues to demand that he be allowed to return. Paul Cook investigates.

LAST weekend the counter on the St Augustine’s Church newsletter ticked over to seven years. Father Michael Higginbottom’s name still appears on the top of the newsletter, the time since he was suddenly removed from the parish in Darlington town centre adorns the bottom, and parishioners every week are asked to pray for him.

It is so long since Fr Higginbottom left St Augustine’s because of a diocese investigation that there are some who question his name when he is mentioned. Remarkably after all that time there appears to be no resolution in sight.

One parishioner even believed the diocese was allowing it to continue until both he and those who remember him in his parish have died.

It was at Sunday service on December 12, 2004, only two days after his last public appearance, that parishioners at St Augustine’s first became aware something was awry.

Instead of Fr Higginbottom taking mass, Canon Seamus Cunningham, then the Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, made an announcement on behalf of the Bishop Kevin Dunn.

He told the congregation that Fr Higginbottom was spending time away from the parish because the diocese had received information which required investigation. It was standard practice and Fr Higginbottom had to be withdrawn as priest while inquiries were carried out.

No further information was available at the time. Nor was Fr Higginbottom said to be aware of the nature of the allegations.

It later emerged that the investigation centred around the time that Fr Higginbottom taught at St Joseph’s College, a former Roman Catholic seminary, in Lancashire. The police and social services were also asked to investigate. Even though those investigations were very quickly concluded and dropped, Fr Higginbottom’s church suspension remained indefinite.

By March the following year, Father Dennis Tindall, who was heading the investigation told a public church meeting that it was a highly unusual and intricate case and that sharing further information could prejudice any police inquiry.

But, time has continued to roll on. Fr Higginbottom, who had arrived at the church in 1998, was initially housed in a Minsteracres monastic retreat, elsewhere in County Durham. There he stayed for 14 months until he moved to an address near Newcastle to be with family.

And, while his name was never removed from official church literature, his place was filled firstly by Father Patrick McKenna, from Stockton, then Brother Michael Francis, a nurse from the nearby St John of God Hospitaller order, and now Father Seamus Doyle.

Parishioners say they are happy with Fr Doyle but also want to see Fr Higginbottom return.

DANNY KLEIN regularly sees his friend.

He was one of several parishioners who joined Fr Higginbottom and other members of the diocese on a pilgrimage to see the Passion Play in Oberammergau, Austria, earlier this year.

He says: “Fr Michael wants to have his name cleared because people say there is no smoke without fire. He wants to get back and do his job in the church. Whether it is in Darlington, all well and good.

“It has been seven years now and this has been over his head all that time. The parish wants him to return. He is mentioned every week in the bulletin. Officially he is still parish priest and, of course, we all want him back.”

Although he called the church’s investigation an embarrassment, another parishioner Cyndi Hughes said this is not the time to “attack the bishop”, adding: “There was no case to answer and obviously as parishioners we remain committed to Fr Michael, wish him well and want him back. By the same token, Fr Seamus is a very decent guy. He is acting as parish priest and we also welcome him but we feel sad for Fr Michael. We want it to be resolved.

“There will be many parishioners at St Augustine’s remembering this time of year. We hope and pray for Fr Michael.

“The church is in a very difficult position, with the allegations and accusations. There are policies in place. The Catholic Church hasn’t been around for hundreds of years for no reason. As a Catholic, we have to accept the guidance of the bishop over this, even though it hurts and pains us.

“Fr Michael’s sense of obedience to the church is amazing. I am surprised, but I shouldn’t be. If he wanted to take action he could have done that, but his obedience to the bishop and his deep faith that it will be resolved justly and fairly must be what is sustaining him.

“ The people of the parish continue to pray for him.”

When Canon Cunningham was named as Bishop in January 2009, following the death of The Right Reverend Kevin Dunn, it was hoped that he would make the case one of his priorities.

But a diocese spokesman said that the investigation was ongoing and he was unable to answer any further questions.

Which leaves so many questions unanswered.

Like how much longer will this sorry saga continue?

Will Fr Higginbottom’s name be ever cleared or will he have to live under the shroud of suspicion?

How long do parishioners have to pray for their priest without knowing why they are?

And, will the investigation ever be resolved?

Seven years and still no answers.