A vicar accused of bullying and intimidation is to be sacked following a ruling by a Church of England tribunal.

Rev Thomas Ambrose, a Vicar in Trumpington, was accused of being a “bully and a liar” after a spate of resignations from volunteers and church wardens, The Times newspaper reported.

Ambrose had brought the once thriving parish to breaking point, it was alleged in the September hearing, details of which were published this week.

He sent hate e-mails and made personal attacks on ‘opponents’ during sermons, it was claimed.

One complainant reportedly told the hearing: “At one point he was towering over me and shouting at me and I actually thought he was going to grab my shoulders and shake me or hit me.”

Members of the tribunal were satisfied “beyond reasonable doubt” that a serious breakdown had occurred within the parish which could not be remedied if Ambrose remained, said The Bishop of Ely and the Rt Revd Dr Anthony Russell.

Last year, the Andrea Adams Trust did some work with the CoE on their bullying policies. Matt Witheridge, part of the trust’s ‘Ban Bullying at Work’ campaign, said that although people might think of the Church as an archaic institution, “they’re very much on-top of making sure they have policies and procedures in place to protect people from bullying and harassment”.

Dr Ambrose’s hearing, one of only a handful in the last century, was held just months after the introduction of a ‘conflict management’ course for church leaders, the first sessions of which are understood to have taken place in December.

Representatives from the Anglican, Methodist, Church of Scotland, Roman Catholic, Baptist and United Reform will attend the courses; concentrating on psychological and conflict resolution strategies.

Dr Ambrose has been given 21 days to appeal against the ruling.

Also on HR Zone this week, is an article on how to deal with bullies at work.