By Victor Fanuel
LONDON — A Zimbabwean-born priest has been expelled from the United Reformed Church (URC) in the United Kingdom after admitting to fraudulently claiming more than £23,000 in church allowances over 12 years.
Reverend Naison Hove, 59, appeared before Wood Green Crown Court, where he received a two-year suspended prison sentence.
Prosecutors revealed that Hove submitted 13 falsified claims, covering expenses such as his children’s school uniforms, despite his household income being well above the eligibility threshold.
Ordained in 2001, Hove served congregations across London and Sussex until his suspension in 2022.
An internal URC investigation confirmed more than £23,000 in fraudulent claims, leading to his official dismissal from ministry in January 2025.
In court, Hove’s defence argued that he acted under the weight of societal pressure and personal shame.
His legal team claimed he felt compelled to live up to traditional expectations as a family provider, believing he was failing his wife and household.
The URC has since distanced itself from the disgraced cleric, stressing that trust and integrity remain central to ministry.
This case has sparked debate about accountability and financial oversight within church institutions.
