1970-2011 · 41 years · show in timeline

Ealing Abbey and St Benedict's School 1970 to 2011: Inquiry report by Lord Carlile finds years of abuse of pupils by Benedictine monks and culpable failure by the monastic community

St Benedict's in London is the only Benedictine day school in Britain and is run by Ealing Abbey. In 2010 the abbot commissioned the lawyer Lord Carlile to conduct an inquiry after abuse of pupils, mainly by monks, had become known; one monk, David Pearce, was in prison for it. Around 100 people came forward. Most complaints concerned purported chastisement, which according to Carlile was often sexually motivated. He found that monks repeatedly abused children from the mid-1970s into the 1980s, and accused the monastic community of lengthy and culpable failure. One of the most serious mistakes, he said, was allowing Pearce to return to the abbey after a lost civil action in 2004.

Period: 1970-2011 (41 years)
Country: United Kingdom
Institutions: Ealing Abbey
St Benedict's School Ealing
English Benedictine Congregation
Category: Violence, Sexual abuse, Cover-up
Level of evidence: A Primary source · what does this mean?

What happened to the people

Who was affected? Victims and numbers

According to Carlile most complaints concerned forms of chastisement and physical punishment. Some of these "punishments" were carried out in entirely inappropriate ways and on many occasions with sexual motive. Several of those affected described experiences that left a permanent psychological mark; the combination of fear, guilt, repetition, pain and revulsion could affect their whole later life.

Evidence: Lord Carlile of Berriew, im Auftrag der Abtei Ealing, Abs. 10

„on many occasions with sexual motive“

Report by Lord Carlile of Berriew Q.C. into Matters Relating to Ealing Abbey and St Benedict's School, Ealing, Abs. 10. Original

Evidence: Lord Carlile of Berriew, im Auftrag der Abtei Ealing, Abs. 10

„distressing accounts of personal experiences which have left a“

Report by Lord Carlile of Berriew Q.C. into Matters Relating to Ealing Abbey and St Benedict's School, Ealing, Abs. 10. Original

How were they charged and sentenced?

In August 2010 it was announced that the Abbot of Ealing had commissioned Lord Carlile to conduct an independent inquiry, prompted by proved and some alleged abuse in past years, mainly by monks. At the start of the inquiry the monk David Pearce was in prison for sexual abuse connected with the school. The abbey funded the report. Around 100 people came forward after a call for evidence, mostly in confidence.

Evidence: Lord Carlile of Berriew, im Auftrag der Abtei Ealing, Abs. 5

„proved (and some alleged, but not proved) abuse in past years mainly by monks who“

Report by Lord Carlile of Berriew Q.C. into Matters Relating to Ealing Abbey and St Benedict's School, Ealing, Abs. 5. Original

Evidence: Lord Carlile of Berriew, im Auftrag der Abtei Ealing, Abs. 6

„At the time when I commenced my inquiry one monk, David Pearce, was (and still is)“

Report by Lord Carlile of Berriew Q.C. into Matters Relating to Ealing Abbey and St Benedict's School, Ealing, Abs. 6. Original

Evidence: Lord Carlile of Berriew, im Auftrag der Abtei Ealing, Abs. 9

„contacted, mostly in strict confidence, by around 100 individuals“

Report by Lord Carlile of Berriew Q.C. into Matters Relating to Ealing Abbey and St Benedict's School, Ealing, Abs. 9. Original

Background

Response of the Church

Carlile places primary fault with the abusers, but secondary fault with the monastic community for its lengthy and culpable failure to deal with behaviour that endangered children and at times must have been evident. From the mid-1970s into the 1980s monks had repeatedly abused; it was hard to imagine other monks suspected nothing. One of the most serious mistakes was allowing Pearce to return to the abbey after a successful civil action in 2004. The schools inspectorate found that the school had failed to make a necessary referral about Pearce in 2004 and that trust within the community had at times overshadowed responsibility for children's welfare.

Evidence: Lord Carlile of Berriew, im Auftrag der Abtei Ealing, Abs. 12

„Secondary fault“

Report by Lord Carlile of Berriew Q.C. into Matters Relating to Ealing Abbey and St Benedict's School, Ealing, Abs. 12. Original

Evidence: Lord Carlile of Berriew, im Auftrag der Abtei Ealing, Abs. 12

„in its lengthy and culpable failure to deal“

Report by Lord Carlile of Berriew Q.C. into Matters Relating to Ealing Abbey and St Benedict's School, Ealing, Abs. 12. Original

Evidence: Lord Carlile of Berriew, im Auftrag der Abtei Ealing, Abs. 34

„repeated acts of abuse committed by monks“

Report by Lord Carlile of Berriew Q.C. into Matters Relating to Ealing Abbey and St Benedict's School, Ealing, Abs. 34. Original

Evidence: Lord Carlile of Berriew, im Auftrag der Abtei Ealing, Abs. 41

„was the decision to allow Father Pearce to return to the Abbey after a successful civil“

Report by Lord Carlile of Berriew Q.C. into Matters Relating to Ealing Abbey and St Benedict's School, Ealing, Abs. 41. Original

Evidence: Lord Carlile of Berriew, im Auftrag der Abtei Ealing, Abs. 41

„overshadowed responsibility for children’s“

Report by Lord Carlile of Berriew Q.C. into Matters Relating to Ealing Abbey and St Benedict's School, Ealing, Abs. 41. Original

Evidence: Lord Carlile of Berriew, im Auftrag der Abtei Ealing, Abs. 42

„2009 Inspection school had failed to make one referral, concerning Father Pearce in“

Report by Lord Carlile of Berriew Q.C. into Matters Relating to Ealing Abbey and St Benedict's School, Ealing, Abs. 42. Original

Original documents to read

Commission report
Lord Carlile of Berriew, im Auftrag der Abtei Ealing: Report by Lord Carlile of Berriew Q.C. into Matters Relating to Ealing Abbey and St Benedict's School, Ealing, 9 November 2011. Original (retrieved 31 Oct 2026)

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31 Oct 2026: Aufgenommen

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