A VICAR and governor at a primary school in Oxford is facing 20 child sex charges.

Father Michael Wright, 69, vicar of St Barnabas Church in Jericho since 1980, has been suspended by the Oxford Diocese following a police investigation into the alleged offences, which date back more than 30 years.

He also stood down from his role as a governor at St Barnabas Primary School in Jericho. The school in Hart Street is church-aided.

Yesterday, Wright appeared for a preliminary hearing at Reading Crown Court, charged with five counts of a serious sexual offence and 15 counts of indecent assault against a young boy. He was released on conditional bail.

The Edinburgh-born clergyman is accused of sexually abusing the boy at St Stephen's Church in Lewisham, South London, between December 1973 and December 1976.

Sarah Meyrick, a spokesman for the Oxford Diocese, said: "The investigation relates to events that are alleged to have taken place many years ago, before Father Michael was working in the Diocese of Oxford.

"The Church of England expects the highest standards of personal conduct in its clergy, and the Diocese of Oxford takes allegations such as these extremely seriously.

"Father Michael is suspended from his post until the case is resolved."

Wright - whose legal first name is Edward - was arrested by police on June 22.

The case was due to be heard in Oxford, but was switched to Reading.

Wright spoke only to confirm his name when he appeared before Mr Justice Gross.

It was decided further hearings could not be heard in Oxford or Reading, and the case has been switched to Blackfriars Crown Court in London.

Nicholas Syfret,defending, applied for Wright's bail to be made unconditional, but this was opposed by prosecutor Giles Curtis-Raleigh.

Wright, of St Barnabas Street, was due to go on holiday to Croatia but Mr Justice Gross ordered that his passport must stay with police and he cannot apply for any travel documents.

He will appear at Blackfriars to give his pleas, but the date for that hearing has not been set.

Wright began working as vicar of St Barnabas and St Paul in 1980. He was vicar of St Stephen's and St Mark's, Lewisham, from 1972 to 1980. Before that, he served in the Bahamas and Willesden, in London.

The Oxford Diocese said Wright withdrew from his work with children and young people when the police began their investigation in June.

Now that charges have been brought, he is suspended by the Diocese until the case is resolved.

Until her death at the age of 101 in 2004, Wright's mother Nesta lived with him. She was one of Jericho's best known residents.