A TRAFFORD church has removed a CD advertisement from its webpage after it emerged that the record featured a former deacon convicted for child sexual abuse.

The CD was initially discovered for sale on Amazon by a former victim of Alan Morris, who was imprisoned for nine years for a string of sexual abuses carried on schoolboys while working as a teacher at St Ambrose College, Altrincham.

Morris, 64, who was a deacon at Holy Angels Church, Hale Barns at the time of his arrest, is featured on the recording, ‘Hymns for the Angels’.

The album features tracks including ‘O Scared Heart’ and ‘Guardian Angel’ recorded at the church in 1996, with Morris conducting the service and introducing hymns.

Author, David Nolan, was made aware of the record by former victims of Morris following the recent publication of his book about the abuse scandal, titled ‘Tell the Truth and Shame the Devil’.

“When I first heard about it, I honestly thought it was some sort of joke,” he said.

“As someone writing points out on Amazon, it’s wildly inappropriate to be making money off this CD.

“This is a convicted paedophile. It’s completely inappropriate; particularly that it’s listed in a section among the religious CDs.

“You can only hope that it will be withdrawn.”

Reviewers on Amazon include comments including: “Alan Morris is a convicted paedophile, currently serving nine years. He was a bully, a rotten stinking bully.”

It latterly emerged that there was an advertisement on Holy Angels Church’s website advertising the CD, recorded in 1996.

After being contacted by Messenger, Holy Angels immediately removed the advertisement from their website.

Father Jonathan Brandon of Holy Angels said: “I wasn’t aware that there was the reference to Alan Morris and the advertisement has now been removed from the website.

“It’s no longer for sale through the parish.”

He said that added that CD was made in 1996 by a group of parishioners who wanted to record traditional hymns.

Proceeds from the CD’s sale were used for charitable purposes, said Father Branson, adding that the CD had proved very popular at the time.