Church of England faces fresh abuse allegations with senior bishop accused | Bolt Burdon Kemp Church of England faces fresh abuse allegations with senior bishop accused | Bolt Burdon Kemp

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Church of England faces fresh abuse allegations with senior bishop accused

The Bishop of Liverpool has been accused of sexual offences against two women, putting more pressure on the Archbishop of York to resign.

Right Reverend Dr John Perumbalath, a prominent figure within the church, denies claims broadcast in a Channel 4 investigation on 28 January 2025.

The report, based on testimonies from multiple sources, claims the bishop engaged in inappropriate conduct with several individuals over the course of many years.

Survivors of the alleged abuse shared their experiences, describing incidents that occurred during church events and private meetings. One woman alleged she was assaulted in the diocese of Chelmsford in Essex, when Perumbalath was Bishop of Bradwell, on separate occasions between 2019 and 2023. A female bishop also told Channel 4 News she was sexually harassed by him.

The Channel 4 investigation also revealed some of these allegations had been reported to church authorities in the past but had been dismissed or not fully addressed.

In response to the report, the church issued a statement expressing “deep concern” over the allegations and promised to cooperate with any ongoing investigations. They have pledged to ensure transparency and support for those affected, while the bishop himself denies the allegations, adding he has “complied with any investigation from the National Safeguarding Team”.

The Channel 4 report comes after the recent resignation of the former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby following a damning report into a prolific child abuser associated with the Church of England.

Just prior to this, the ex-vicar David Tudor was barred for life from ministry after a tribunal found he sexually abused young girls. Our client bravely gave her testimony in the recent BBC File on 4 documentary about Tudor, and she spoke about how the church so badly let her down.

It appears that the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, has a lot to answer for, having already faced multiple calls to quit over his alleged failure to handle abuse cases properly. He is again accused of covering up the latest allegations of abuse.

The Channel 4 report has sparked significant public debate, with many calling for greater accountability within the church and a more robust system for addressing allegations of abuse. The case continues to unfold, with further developments expected in the coming weeks.

Our team at BBK is passionate about supporting survivors of abuse and putting pressure on the church to take accountability for its failures. If you have faced abuse from within the church, you have legal options and we are here to support you. You can get in touch using the contact details below.

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