Church Pays Compensation After "Exorcism" to "Cure" Gay Man

A man has received compensation from a Church of England parish after undergoing an "exorcism" aimed at changing his sexual orientation. The incident involved Matthew Drapper, who was a volunteer at St Thomas Philadelphia, a joint Anglican-Baptist congregation in Sheffield. He was invited to a weekend event at the church in 2014.

During the event, Drapper was told that "sexual impurity" had allowed demons to enter his body, leading to the performance of an exorcism. He was instructed to renounce influences from Hollywood and the media, which were deemed to have led him astray. The exorcism was conducted by a married couple who were prayer leaders within the church.

Drapper reported feeling deeply distressed and empty after the experience, even contemplating suicide. He described the incident as terrifying, especially given his deep involvement with the church at the time. He left the church in 2016 and later filed a formal complaint, seeking an apology.

Initially, St Thomas Philadelphia denied the claims. However, after Drapper persisted, the church commissioned an investigation by Barnardo’s in 2021. The charity's review confirmed that Drapper had indeed been subjected to a prayer session that constituted a form of exorcism.

Following the release of the Barnardo’s report, Drapper pursued a legal claim against the church, resulting in an out-of-court settlement and a financial payment. The church later issued a statement expressing sadness and offering an apology for the incident.