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| Tests due on body of vicar found dead in Thornbury | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A post-mortem examination is to be held after a vicar was found dead at his vicarage near Bristol. | A post-mortem examination is to be held after a vicar was found dead at his vicarage near Bristol. |
| The body of the Reverend John Suddards, a former barrister, was found by builders at the property on Castle Street on Tuesday. | The body of the Reverend John Suddards, a former barrister, was found by builders at the property on Castle Street on Tuesday. |
| Avon and Somerset Police said the builders, on a planned job, had been given a key by a caretaker. | Avon and Somerset Police said the builders, on a planned job, had been given a key by a caretaker. |
| Officers are treating the death as suspicious but said the investigation was at "an early stage" | Officers are treating the death as suspicious but said the investigation was at "an early stage" |
| Det Ch Simon Insp Crisp said a pathologist and a forensic scientist were assessing the scene. | Det Ch Simon Insp Crisp said a pathologist and a forensic scientist were assessing the scene. |
| 'Shocked and saddened' | |
| "A full search and examination of the property will take place and we're determined to find the cause of the death," he said. | "A full search and examination of the property will take place and we're determined to find the cause of the death," he said. |
| Mr Suddards, a clergyman of 22 years, joined St Mary's church in Thornbury, part of the Diocese of Gloucester, following a serious car accident. | |
| The Bishop of Gloucester, the Reverend Michael Perham, and the Bishop of Tewkesbury, the Reverend John Went, said they were "shocked and saddened" over the news. | |
| "The Diocese of Gloucester will do everything it can to assist the police in their investigations," they said in a joint statement. | |
| "We are continuing to hold the community in our prayers." | |
| 'Absolutely devoted' | 'Absolutely devoted' |
| Mr Suddards is understood to have moved to the area from a parish in Witham, Essex, in the summer. | |
| The Reverend Simon Garwood, vicar at St Nicolas in Witham, said: "He had served in the area for 10 years and was much loved. | |
| "He was absolutely devoted to the church and worked extremely hard. He gave a lot of himself for the church." | "He was absolutely devoted to the church and worked extremely hard. He gave a lot of himself for the church." |
| John Goodman, Mayor of Witham, said he and his wife had attended the church on special occasions such as Christmas. | John Goodman, Mayor of Witham, said he and his wife had attended the church on special occasions such as Christmas. |
| He said: "He was a very quiet man who kept himself to himself but he was devoted to the church and was a very well-liked rector." | He said: "He was a very quiet man who kept himself to himself but he was devoted to the church and was a very well-liked rector." |
| Gill Brook, the mayor of Thornbury, said the death was very unusual for the small town. | Gill Brook, the mayor of Thornbury, said the death was very unusual for the small town. |
| "I've lived here 37 years and nothing like this has happened here," she said. | "I've lived here 37 years and nothing like this has happened here," she said. |
| "I was in the High Street at 10:30 when the police cars went past and we got the news of what had happened. | "I was in the High Street at 10:30 when the police cars went past and we got the news of what had happened. |
| She added Mr Suddards was a "very quiet, unassuming man". | She added Mr Suddards was a "very quiet, unassuming man". |
| "The last time I saw him was about 10 days ago at a reception for the Catholic priest that was leaving and he seemed perfectly fine then." | "The last time I saw him was about 10 days ago at a reception for the Catholic priest that was leaving and he seemed perfectly fine then." |
| Jacqueline Pillinger, 68, whose daughter works nearby, said: "This area is lovely, I'm very surprised anything like this has happened." | Jacqueline Pillinger, 68, whose daughter works nearby, said: "This area is lovely, I'm very surprised anything like this has happened." |