Indian-origin Bishop of Liverpool resigns after sexual assault allegations

The Bishop of Liverpool has stepped down after allegations of sexual assault and harassment surfaced against him. Right Reverend Dr John Perumbalath has denied the charges and said that he had “not done anything wrong.”

Bishop Perumbalath said that he took the decision to resign for his family, his own well-being and “the best interests of the Diocese.” He had claimed that the step did not indicate any wrongdoing or “admission of liability.”

In accordance with protocol, the clergyman had tendered his resignation to King Charles, who allowed him to retire from the role.


The decision follows a letter from a group of church leaders to the Archbishop of York, urging the Bishop of Liverpool to step down. Among the signatories were Miranda Threlfall-Holmes, Archdeacon of Liverpool, and Pete Spiers, Archdeacon of Knowsley & Sefton. They emphasised the need for a thorough investigation into the allegations against the clergyman.

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Who is Bishop Perumbalath?

Bishop Perumbalath is originally from Kerala. In 1994, he was ordained into the Church of North India. He moved to the UK in 2001 and took up positions in the Diocese of Rochester. The clergyman later served as Archdeacon of Barking and the Bishop of Bradwell. He was appointed the Bishop of Liverpool in 2022.

Charges against Bishop Perumbalath

In a Channel 4 News investigation, one woman claimed that she was allegedly assaulted by Bishop Perumbalath on separate occasions between 2019 and 2023. The incidents reportedly took place in the diocese of Chelmsford, Essex, where the clergyman was the Bishop of Bradwell. A female bishop also told the media outlet that the bishop had sexually harassed her.

Another scandal in Church of England

The allegations against Bishop Perumbalath follow on the heels of another controversy in the Church of England. Earlier, Justin Welby, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, had stepped down after an investigation revealed that he had failed to inform cops about serial sexual and physical abuse at Christian summer camps by a volunteer.

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FAQs

1. Have the charges been investigated by the Church of England?
Yes, the Church of England said it had investigated the complaints, when the first allegations came in 2023.

2. What was the outcome of the investigation?
The Church of England stated that its investigation had found no case to answer. A police investigation into the issue also took place. The police concluded further action was not required.