THE former rectors of a ministry where a vicar claims he was hounded out have defended its parishioners.

The Very Rev Richard Lewis said the name of the “wonderful people” of the Teme Valley South Ministry had been “blackened” by the allegations of the Rev Mark Sharpe.

And Former reverend Paul Lack, who ministered to the parishes from 1990 until 2001, said that he and his family had been “extremely happy” there.

They were speaking after 42-year-old Mr Sharpe claims his and his family’s health was “shattered” after a four-year “campaign of intimidation” by villagers. His family moved out of the rectory in Hanley Broadheath, near Tenbury Wells, this week to rented accommodation at an undisclosed address.

Mr Sharpe claims that his tyres were slashed, his dog poisoned and excrement smeared over the family car.

He is taking the Diocese of Worcester to an employment tribunal. The union Unite has been negotiating a settlement for Mr Sharpe since he went off sick with stress in April, 2006.

He claims the diocese washed its hands of him when he became a target for parishioners. The diocese denies the allegations and a tribunal hearing is set for May 2010.

Mr Lewis was appointed by the Bishop of Worcester as sick cover for Mr Sharpe between January 2007 and May 2008.

He said: “They are wonderful people and, of course, there are a few difficult characters but they have to be loved and managed and this I think Mr Sharpe simply failed to do.

“Nobody spoke badly of Mr Sharpe to me while I was in the ministry, they only spoke in sorrow. They have been hurt by what he has said and totally denied these allegations to me. I think it was a fevered imagination hard at work.”

Former clergyman Mr Lack only stepped down from his post after developing ME, saying “if it only were to be, we would have stayed there for sure.”

“My family and I were there for 11 years and brought up our young son there.

“They were extremely happy years and we were very sad to leave.

“We had very good neighbours and very good friends.

“I found the allegations of Mr Sharpe quite extraordinary and find it difficult to believe that these people who I worked with for 11 years would be capable of this.”