Pinner preacher stepped down after arrest (From Harrow Times)

Harrow and Hillingdon preacher stepped down after arrest

4:52pm Tuesday 18th November 2008 in News By Tristan Kirk

A PINNER man accused of sexually molesting young girls under the age of 13 has resigned from his role as a preacher at churches in Harrow and Hillingdon.

Charles Morris, 56, was yesterday charged by police with three counts of indecent assault on a girl, and will face Harrow Magistrates on Thursday, November 27.

He is a member of Pinner Methodist Church, and had been working as a preacher for the Harrow and Hillingdon Circuit, an organisation covering 17 Methodist churches across the two boroughs.

Police first arrested Mr Morris in June when they raided his home, in Malpas Drive, following an investigation by Harrow Police's Child Abuse Investigation Team.

Mr Morris told his superiors at the church, in Cannon Lane, about his arrest and resigned from his position as a preacher and also from his role as Local Preacher's Secretary.

A statement released today by The Methodist Church confirmed it knew about Mr Morris' arrest and that he had stepped down from his post when the allegations were made against him.

It said: “Charles resigned from his post as a Methodist Local Preacher and Local Preacher’s Secretary subsequent to his arrest in June on these allegations.

Mr Morris, who is married, has also helped out with bookkeeping at nearby Pinner Parish Church, in Church Lane, holding the role of assistant treasurer and acting as the church's business manager in the past.

Mr Morris has yet to enter a plea to the charges against him, and has been released on police bail until his hearing at the magistrates court next week.