Thaindian News

London, Mar 5 (ANI): A Chaplain to the Queen, who has four children, has left his wife amid rumours of an affair with a woman in the congregation.

Canon Andrew Clitherow, 60, who specialises in advising the clergy on marital problems, announced to his congregation at St Cuthbert’s, in Lytham St Annes, Lancs, that he was leaving his wife Rebekah, 35.

Rebekah is a team leader at The Trinity Hospice in nearby Blackpool, where she gives palliative care to the elderly.

Canon has written several marital guidance books, including Embrace the Power of Love and Desire, Love and the Rule of St Benedict, and this is not the first time that he has left a wife.

In the mid-1990s he was married to Elizabeth, with whom he had two children, when he met Rebekah, a teenage alto pupil at Rossall School, where he spent time with the choir in his role as school chaplain.

Canon had two children with Rebekah and they finally married in 2002.

The clergyman was appointed to the royal ecclesiastical team three years ago, allowing him to preach to the Queen.

He became an Honorary Chaplain to the Queen, one of 34 holders of the post, which is awarded for distinguished service.

“It is an absolute shock,” the Telegraph quoted one member of Canon’s congregation as saying.

“The vicar met the third party, a female member of the church, and they have mutual love of music.

“We are very upset for his wife who does some tremendous work in a difficult job. She must have been devastated to find out about the affair,” the member stated.

A spokesman for the diocese said Canon had assured the Bishop of Blackburn, the Right Rev Reade, that there was no other woman involved in the split. (ANI)