Rev Nathan Ntege

A Croydon vicar has been arrested on suspicion of conducting sham marriages, it has been disclosed.

The Reverend Nathan Ntege, of St Jude with St Aidan Church in Thornton Heath, south London, has been bailed pending further inquiries.

The arrest took placed on June 4, but details have only just emerged.

A UK Border Agency (UKBA) spokesman said: “A 52-year-old man was arrested at an address in Thornton Heath on the morning of Saturday 4 June in connection with an investigation into sham marriages in south London.”

According to the agency, he was arrested on suspicion of carrying out an act to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law. He has been bailed to December 6.

St Jude's Church. Pic: Diocese of Southwark

Premises at the church were searched as part of the investigation and the Diocese of Southwark and Church of England were made aware of what was happening.

A spokeswoman for the Diocese of Southwark said: “The Revd Nathan Ntege, Vicar of St Jude, Thornton Heath was arrested on Saturday 4 June.

“The Borders Agency is investigating matters concerning the conduct of marriages which have taken place at St Jude’s church.

“He has been released on bail, the terms of which mean that he is not currently able to undertake public ministry until the investigation is complete.

“The Diocese of Southwark will be ensuring that the Revd Nathan Ntege, his family and the parish receive pastoral care and support.”

Ntege, who has a Ugandan background, has previously worked for a decade at St John Church in Waterloo and has been at St Jude for about three years. Both churches are said to have been popular with members of the Ugandan expatriate community in London.