Bishop of Liverpool Resigns Amid Allegations of Sexual Misconduct

The Bishop of Liverpool, Dr John Perumbalath, has confirmed his retirement following allegations of sexual misconduct, including one by another Bishop.

The Rt Revd Beverley Mason, the Bishop of Warrington, has accused him of sexual harassment in 2023 whilst another woman claims he kissed her without consent and groped her on separate occasions between 2019 and 2023.

Bishop Mason said "A Bishop cannot be above the law. A Bishop cannot be dealt differently from a priest.

"If anything, a Bishop must be held to greater scrutiny. This is a biblical imperative," she said.

Bishop Perumbalath, 58, denied the allegations and made the following statement.

"Having sought the permission of His Majesty the King, I have today taken the decision to retire from active ministry in the Church of England."

He said he had consistently maintained that he had not done anything wrong. “Since the claims were made in 2023, they have been investigated and considered by experts from the National Safeguarding Team and had found them unsubstantiated.

“The first allegation was also investigated by the police resulting in no further action.”

He claimed that despite this, media reports had treated him as guilty on all charges and treated the allegations as fact.

"I do not wish this story to become a distraction for this incredible diocese and its people whom it has been an honour and joy to serve," the Bishop says in his letter.

"This is not a resignation occasioned by fault or by any admission of liability."

The letter continued: "I have taken this decision for my own well-being, my family and the best interests of the Diocese.

"I have informed the Archbishop of York of my decision, and I understand he will put in place the necessary arrangements for episcopal oversight of the diocese for the remainder of my time here and during the vacancy."

The Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell - who has faced calls to resign over separate safeguarding failures - said: "I respect his decision and thank him for his ministry."

"My thoughts and prayers continue to be with all those who have been affected by this situation," he continued. "I am committed to ensuring stability during this time of transition and will be putting the necessary arrangements in place to provide episcopal oversight for the diocese."

An acting Bishop will be announced in the coming days.

The misconduct allegations were reported by Channel 4 earlier this week but first made to the Church of England in 2023.

Whilst police had concluded no further action was needed and the Church of England said its investigation had found no case to answer, there had been widespread calls for the bishop to step aside after the programme aired, with church leaders calling his position "untenable".