A SENIOR Canterbury Cathedral official resigned after revelations he had been having an affair with another man's wife.

The departure of father-of-two Canon Dr Richard Marsh, a close aide to former Archbishop George Carey, was originally announced during a Eucharist service in late November, but it is only this week that the reason for the unexpected exit finally emerged.

His relationship with Rosemary Hallam, an ex-Cathedral worker and wife of a Christ Church University executive, prompted the couple’s departure from Canterbury and has devastated two families.

A Cathedral spokesman said that the move was for "personal and private" reasons.

But the Mail on Sunday reported over two pages his relationship with Mrs Hallam at the weekend.

She and Dr Marsh, a former official in the Archbishop of Canterbury’s staff, were photographed hand-in-hand together in Rye close to where they have set up home.

A spokesman for Canterbury Cathedral said: "I think this is a tragedy for everyone concerned."

* FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK'S KENTISH GAZETTE.