Bishop of Liverpool retires after sexual assault allegations

The Bishop of Liverpool has announced his retirement after allegations of sexual assault and harassment were made against him.

The Right Reverend Dr John Perumbalath said he did not want to be a “distraction” after claims made by two women were outlined in a Channel 4 News investigation.

He said it was “not a resignation occasioned by fault or by any admission of liability”.

One woman was allegedly assaulted in the diocese of Chelmsford in Essex, where the clergyman 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.

Police had concluded no further action was needed, while 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 documentary aired, with church leaders calling his position “untenable”.

Bishop John previously said he had “consistently denied the allegations made against me by both complainants”.

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