Anglican priest at centre of will row to face church misconduct inquiry hearing over his relationship with wealthy widow

An Anglican priest who befriended a wealthy widow 50 years his senior and walked away with a trust worth more than $2.2m will face an internal misconduct hearing.

Joan Correll and Anglican Father Thomas Karamakuzhiyil. Picture: supplied

An Anglican priest who befriended a wealthy widow 50 years his senior and was left a trust worth more than $2.2m will face an internal misconduct hearing.

In what senior church officials described as a significant development, a professional standards inquiry into Father Thomas Karamakuzhiyil, 49, has been reopened after a Sunday Mail report.

Fr Thomas, who denies any wrongdoing, will now face a Professional Standards Board (PSB) hearing in the church’s “court”, headed by a retired judge, over his close relationship with parishioner Joan Correll in Minlaton.

She left more than half of her $4.4m estate to the priest after her death in 2020, aged 88, four years after he left town.

The internal church investigation into the Mount Barker-based priest was dropped after his legal team argued its code of conduct only allowed inquiries into sexual cases.

This meant there were “insufficient grounds” to prove any other misconduct against Fr Thomas. Her family labelled the church investigation “deeply flawed”.

But in a pastoral letter sent on Sunday to churches in the Diocese of Willochra, which covers 90 per cent of the state including the Yorke Peninsula where Fr Thomas originally worked, parishioners were told a standards committee had revised its decision.

Anglican Father Thomas Karamakuzhiyil. Pictures: Supplied

Joan Correll with Father Thomas Karamakuzhiyil. Pictures: Supplied

Willochra’s bishop, the Right Reverend John Stead, said members had reconsidered new information and evidence a fortnight ago.

“The committee is now of the opinion that Fr Thomas’ alleged misconduct raises issues for determination about (his) fitness for office,” he wrote.

“And whether restrictions or conditions should be placed on any ongoing role he may have in the church, whether that be in SA or in any future diocese he may enter as clergy.

“As I understand it, the matter has now been referred to the PSB for hearing.”

Board sanctions can include a bishop “defrocking” a priest if allegations are substantiated.

Fr Karamakuzhiyil has also recently resigned from his parish in Mount Barker.

Bishop Stead said Mrs Correll’s family and church lawyers had raised “significant concerns” about her will, for which the Supreme Court granted probate.

“The Diocese of Willochra, along with the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Guide Dogs Association of SA, amongst others, sought to enter mediation with Fr Thomas about the will,” he wrote.

“Of particular concern was a Trust established by the Will of which Fr Thomas was both exclusive trustee and principal beneficiary.”

But Bishop Stead warned people to keep “strong opinions” in check, allow the process to reach a conclusion and to not “vilify” complainants, which may include her family.

“We must step back and allow the process which is in place to take its course, even though it is difficult to do so,” he wrote.

Fr Thomas, who is supported by the former bishop of Willochra, Garry Weatherill,was unavailable while Bishop Stead declined to comment.

Father Thomas Karamakuzhiyil. Picture: Supplied

Joan Correll, who left the priest in charge of half of her $4m estate. Pictures: supplied

Originally published as Anglican priest at centre of will row to face church misconduct inquiry hearing over his relationship with wealthy widow