The Bishop of Liverpool, John Perumbalath, has now resigned after two women accused him of sexual assault and harassment, with one of the victims being his colleague within the Diocese of Liverpool.
Perumbalath’s resignation comes after Channel 4 featured testimonies from the victims of forced kissing and groping, among others. Perumbalath’s statement maintains that he has “taken seriously the lessons learnt through this process addressing how [his] actions can be perceived by others”.
Following his resignation, Bev Mason, the Bishop of Warrington, published an open letter confirming she was the second complainant against Perumbalath’s alleged behaviour.
This resignation comes days before the General Synod will hold its regular meeting. During this session, there are plans to vote on reforms to the Church of England’s safeguarding procedures, including plans to outsource investigations to independent bodies. These changes aim to restore trust and ensure greater accountability, although concerns remain about the effectiveness of the new system in addressing deeper issues within the Church of England.
If you have questions about what constitutes a claim or whether you are out of time, please know our trained specialist lawyers are waiting to hear from you, in a confidential and sensitive conversation with no obligation for further action.
Read more about the Church of England National Redress Scheme:
In February, the Church of England published further details of its National Redress Scheme. The Scheme is expected to open in Autumn 2024, with further details of how it will operate expected to be announced over the coming months.
If you are a survivor or victim, we may be able to help you bring a claim.
Update:
Since the above article was published, the Church of England has given final approval to its Redress Scheme. You can read our latest update here: Church of England Approves Redress Scheme for Survivors of Abuse.
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