Abuse in the Church

If you are a survivor of abuse at the hands of a religious organisation, our expert team can help you to secure the compensation you deserve.

Claims against Church Abuse

A large number of abuse claims are brought against the Church and other religious organisations, with many instances of those in charge being held to account for their inappropriate actions.

Priests, vicars and other religious leaders are often looked up to and respected by their parishioners. They are in positions of trust and power and this sometimes allows them access to vulnerable children and adults.

Sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in particular has received a lot of media and public attention since the late 1980s, including investigations and convictions of Catholic priests for sexual abuse and allegations in relation to cover-ups of priest abuse by other prominent figures within the organisation.

National Representation

At Jordans, our specialist team have many years of experience successfully bringing church abuse claims forward, representing clients nationally.

We have obtained compensation for individuals with a wide range of claims, involving Church of England abuse, claims against the Catholic Church and other religious organisations.

Make a church abuse claim with Jordans Solicitors

Our child abuse solicitors are here to provide support and guidance at a very difficult time. Whilst we cannot change what has happened in the past, we will endeavour to recover compensation to allow you to seek the required support to rebuild your life.

If you or your child has suffered church abuse please contact the our specialist abuse lawyers on our dedicated freephone number 0800 9555 094 where one of our team will discuss your situation in confidence.

For more information on the Church of England Redress Scheme, see here:

On the 14th July 2025, the Church of England gave final approval to a comprehensive redress scheme for survivors of Church related abuse. This completes the Church’s legislative process, paving the way for the scheme to open for redress applications, subject to Parliamentary approval and royal assent.
From the 18th July 2025 a public website was opened to enable prospective applicants to register their interest and received advance notification of the scheme’s official opening date once it is known.
Prospective applicants can register their interest by visiting the website below. Once the scheme is open and operating, survivors will be able to apply at this same dedicated website: http://www.redresscofe.org/
The key details of the draft scheme, which is still in its development stages are:
Eligibility:
The scheme will be open to both adult and child survivors of abuse within the Church of England.
Abuse:
The Church has indicated that the scheme will not just be for those who have suffered sexual abuse, it will cover other forms of abuse as well including, physical abuse, psychological/emotional abuse, spiritual abuse, financial abuse, neglect and maltreatment.
An applicant must meet two conditions:
1. The abuse was either someone in authority in the Church or the applicant had reasonable grounds to believe that they had authority and
2. That there was a close connection between the activities authorised for performing that role and carrying out the abuse.
Redress:
This includes financial compensation, therapeutic, spiritual, and emotional support, as well as an acknowledgment of wrongdoing and an apology from the Church. It is predicted that monetary awards under the scheme could range from £5,000 to £600,000.
How will the scheme work:
The current proposals are that the scheme will have a four-stage framework:
Stage 1: Application will be assessed according to the type of abuse with awards ranging between £5,000 to £150,000.
Stage 2: Any aggravating factors will be considered, which could result in the stage one award being increased by up to 100%.
Stage 3: The impact of the abuse on the applicant will be considered and could add between £10,000 and £250,000 to the award.
Stage 4: In rare circumstances there may be a further 20% uplift.
Legal Costs:
Legal costs associated with making a claim will be covered.
Claimants:
If a survivor dies, their partner, dependent child, or parent can bring a claim on their behalf.
Scheme Duration:
The scheme is intended to be open for a period of five years.
Survivor Involvement:
Survivors have been actively involved in the development of the scheme, contributing their expertise and experience through a working group.
Financial Provisions:
The Church has already allocated £150 million to fund the redress scheme
We would urge anyone who would like advice to contact us now to discuss your potential eligibility to claim compensation under the scheme. We can get your case ready so as soon as the scheme opens, we can put your application in promptly.

Redress Schemes and Compensation Claims

Find out more information about Redress Scheme's, see here:

Abuse Redress Schemes

Arrange a free, confidential chat with our specialists

Church Abuse Claims - FAQs

It is usually better to bring church abuse claims against the religious organisation rather than the individual abuser – even if it was specific vicar or priest abuse that occurred. The organisational structure of religious bodies can be complicated, so it is important that your solicitor is experienced in this area of compensation claims.
When it can be proven that the religious organisation was aware of the abuse, or should have been, and took no action, they might also be liable for negligence.
Usually, cases involving church abuse will relate to abuse that happened many years ago, when the complainant was a child or teenager. It is not uncommon, however, for an individual in a position of religious power and authority to abuse or assault an adult member of their church/congregation.
Sexual and physical child abuse is a criminal offence. Whether it was committed against you many years ago or your child more recently, you should report any kind of church abuse to the police first. Every police force has a specialist child protection unit with officers trained to deal with current and non-recent church abuse.
Criminal convictions can help with your church abuse claim. Even if a conviction does not happen, you can still bring forward a claim for compensation.
Where possible, speak to us as soon as possible after an instance of church abuse, as there are time limits for bringing a compensation claim to court.
However, it’s important that you feel comfortable enough to discuss the case. The courts are usually understanding in regard to such a sensitive area. There are many examples where survivors of vicar and priest abuse have stayed quiet before speaking out. Many have still brought forward successful claims.