LIVERPOOL, UK — The Bishop of Liverpool, John Perumbalath, has announced his resignation following allegations of sexual misconduct, marking yet another crisis for the Church of England as it grapples with ongoing scrutiny over its handling of abuse claims.
Perumbalath’s decision to step down comes after mounting pressure from senior church officials, including the Church of England’s lead bishop on safeguarding, Joanne Grenfell, who had urged him to step back from ministry while investigations were conducted.
In a statement released on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, Perumbalath confirmed that he had sought permission from King Charles III to retire from active ministry.
His departure comes 12 years before the Church of England’s compulsory retirement age for bishops.
“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.
Since allegations of inappropriate behaviour first emerged last year, Perumbalath has denied any wrongdoing.
“I have consistently maintained that I have not done anything wrong and continue to do so,” he stated, adding that the claims had been investigated by the Church’s National Safeguarding Team (NST) and were found to be unsubstantiated.
Additionally, a separate police investigation into one of the allegations resulted in no further action.
Despite this, Perumbalath said media coverage had left his position untenable.
“The rush to judgment and my trial by media—be that social or broadcast—has made my position untenable due to the impact it will have on the Diocese of Liverpool and the wider Church whilst we await further reviews and next steps,” he said.
Allegations and Church Response
Two separate allegations were made against Perumbalath in 2023, the same year he was appointed Bishop of Liverpool.
One woman accused him of kissing and groping her without consent, while a female bishop alleged he had sexually harassed her.
Both incidents reportedly took place in Essex.
After Channel 4 News disclosed the allegations, Perumbalath maintained that he did not believe he had acted improperly but said he had “taken seriously the lessons learnt.”
The Church of England confirmed that a formal complaint had been filed against him under the Clergy Discipline Measure (CDM).
However, the NST found insufficient evidence to proceed with disciplinary action. The Church also stated that police had investigated the complaint but declined to pursue charges.
Helen-Ann Hartley, the Bishop of Newcastle and a prominent advocate for stronger safeguarding measures, condemned the situation, saying she was “shocked and appalled” by the allegations.
“Yet again, failures at the heart of the institution of the Church of England, and specifically by its leadership, undermine credibility and confidence in the Church,” she wrote on social media.
A Church in Crisis
Perumbalath’s resignation adds to a turbulent period for the Church of England, which is already reeling from a series of abuse scandals and leadership failures.
His departure follows that of former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who stepped down late last year after facing criticism over his handling of an abuse case.
Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York and now the Church’s de facto leader, is also under pressure to resign over his response to a separate sexual abuse case involving a priest.
The Church’s ruling body, the General Synod, is expected to address these mounting controversies when it meets next month.
The session is likely to be dominated by discussions on safeguarding failures and how the Church can restore trust amid the growing crisis.
