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A vicar in Cardiff has been found to have claimed thousands of pounds for himself and his wife for work that was never actually performed, along with setting up a separate church, according to a tribunal conducted by the Church in Wales. Ryan Forey, aged 35, allegedly claimed the money while overseeing Citizen Church in the city. Additionally, Mr. Forey was reported to have created an app allowing users to access the names of children attending the church, including those in foster care, in violation of safeguarding guidelines. Admitting to the accusations, he was directed to undergo training before being allowed to resume his duties.
Upon relocating to Wales in 2020, Mr. Forey was appointed to lead the Citizen Church in Cathays shortly after becoming a priest, where he engaged mainly with students and a younger congregation via platforms such as YouTube and Instagram. Despite being recognized as a skilled and charismatic priest, the tribunal found that Mr. Forey had been wrongfully claiming money to which he was not entitled, a lapse further exacerbated by the lack of proper support and supervision from the church. Following his resignation from the Church in Wales in April 2024, the situation culminated in a taxing period for Mr. Forey and his wife.
The tribunal revealed that Mr. Forey had been making monthly payments of £300 to himself for services that had not been rendered, and arranged for his wife to receive £500 monthly under the guise of a “clergy spouse allowance” between October 2020 and February 2024. These transactions were deemed illegitimate by the tribunal. In a further breach of regulations, Mr. Forey launched an app displaying the names of children attending his church, including those in care, persisting with its operation despite being cautioned about the associated safeguarding risks. The establishment of an unauthorized church, Be Church in Cardiff, without the consent of the Church in Wales, was also highlighted during the proceedings.
Amidst the aftermath, Mr. Forey expressed regret over his misjudgments and acknowledged his flaws, attributing the tumultuous period to personal vulnerabilities and a crisis of faith in his ecclesiastical future. The tribunal traced these issues back to his hasty transition to Wales, which deprived him of the structured support offered during a conventional curacy, affecting adept mentorship amidst the constraints imposed by the Covid pandemic. While the tribunal acknowledged the deficient oversight and support provided at Citizen Church, it held Mr. Forey culpable for overlooking the rules, actions that jeopardized the reputation of the Church in Wales. The tribunal’s recommendations included a formal caution and mandated training and supervision before Mr. Forey could resume his clerical duties
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