By Steve Rayner
The Bishop of Liverpool, John Perumbalath, has been accused of sexually assaulting one woman and harassing another who is a woman bishop, Channel 4 News reported last night.
It also revealed that Archbishop Stephen Cottrell, the interim head of the Church of England after Justin Welby resigned in November, was made aware of the allegations after Perumbalath was promoted but before he was formally enthroned as Bishop of Liverpool in April 2023.
Bishop Perumbalath, aged 58, is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in the Chelmsford diocese on separate occasions between 2019 and 2023, in his previous job as Bishop of Bradwell in Essex.
Reporter Cathy Newman, on Channel 4 news, read out a statement from the woman with graphic details of what is alleged to have occurred. The news report said church members in charge of approving the Bishop’s new appointment in Liverpool “were unaware of a question mark over his conduct and then furious they weren’t told”.
The woman made a statement to the police in November 2023. Four months later, the Bishop was interviewed voluntarily under caution by police. No charges were brought and the police closed the investigation due to insufficient evidence.
In the other case, a woman bishop alleged she was sexually harassed by Perumbalath and informed senior clergy and the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell. Last year she made a formal complaint, but a judge refused to allow it because more than a year had passed since the alleged harassment, Channel 4 News reported.
The Rev Robert Thompson, a member of the General Synod, told Channel 4 that Bishop John should step back from ministry while the allegation is investigated.
Author Andrew Graystone, who uncovered the story of John Smyth’s abuse, told the programme he was deeply shocked at the story “as you don’t expect this about a diocesan bishop” and in any other area of public life, a person would be stepped back from their role while an investigation continued.
The Rev Charlie Bell, also a member of General Synod, said it was another in a litany of appalling stories. He was sad, shocked and ashamed. “Those of us who are trying to get on with the job of being a priest are pretty fed up with the fact that the central bodies in our church seem to be determined not to get this right”.
In a statement to Channel 4 News, Bishop Perumbalath said: “I have consistently denied the allegations made against me by both complainants. I have complied with any investigation from the National Safeguarding Team. While I don’t believe I have done anything wrong, I have taken seriously the lessons learnt through this process addressing how my actions can be perceived by others.
“I will comply with any investigation deemed necessary. I take safeguarding very seriously and work hard to provide proper leadership in this area.”
A Church of England spokesman said: “While we do not discuss specific details of individual cases, this matter was taken very seriously.” A statement said the National Safeguarding Team had concluded there were no ongoing safeguarding concerns, but a “learning outcome” was identified. The second complainant was assessed not to be a safeguarding matter but alleged misconduct.
Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin resp;onded by telling the programme that there were processes to be followed. The Archbishop of York had instructed a barrister to review the decisions and actions to see whether anything was missed and suggest a way forward: “We cannot just behave like a lynch mob”, she said.
Bishop Perumbalath was born in Kerala and served as a theology teacher in Kolkata. He came to the UK in 2001 and served in the Rochester diocese, before becoming archdeacon of Barking from 2013 – 2018. Barking is in the diocese of Chelmsford, where Stephen Cottrell was the bishop from 2010-2020..
He is married to Jessy, a maths teacher, and they have one daughter.
Channel 4 report and reaction is here
