Tony Sellwood 

Tributes have been paid to the Diocesan Child Protection Officer, Tony Sellwood, who died on January 15th following a road accident near Cowfold.

He had served in the Diocese in Europe since 1998 and was able to deal with the specific intricacies of child protection issues across the many national boundaries where churches are working.  

Tony was also well-known and greatly respected in his home diocese of Chichester for his invaluable work in the field of child protection and all it involves at diocesan and parish level.  

He was working as a colleague of Janet Hind in local authority social and caring services in West Sussex when he was asked to serve as child protection adviser for the Diocese in Europe, while Bishop John was in post.  

When Mrs Hind stepped down from her diocesan role to become the Church of England’s first national child protection adviser in 2002, Bishop John – now Bishop of Chichester – immediately asked Tony to take on the adviser’s role in the diocese.  

Tony played an enormous part in introducing and helping parishes to understand the diocesan child protection procedures following publication of the House of Bishops policy document and other national guidelines.  

“It is impossible to overstate how much Tony will be missed as an amazing servant of the diocese and as a very good friend to so many of us,” said Bishop John. “His title didn’t begin to cover the aspects of work he did on our behalf, from training to keeping people aware of child protection issues, and from building up people’s confidence in addressing what can so often appear to be complex areas to reassuring those concerned by the implications of the policy.  

“He helped us to see that the policy was not just about keeping children safe in churches, but also offered protection to those who work with children.”  

The Right Reverend Geoffrey Rowell, who succeeded Bishop John as Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe said “We offer our love and prayers to Tony’s family as they try to come to terms with their sudden loss. We are grateful for his faithful service and willing advice to so many people in the Diocese in Europe.”

Tony, who was 59, was a family man who also served faithfully as a deacon and elder at his local Baptist church, He lived in Littlehampton, and leaves his wife Felicity and daughters Esther and Katie.  

There is a Service of Thanksgiving for the life and work of Tony Sellwood at Chichester Cathedral: 2.30 pm. Saturday 24th February