Bishop of Liverpool asked to ‘step aside’ by clergy in his diocese after sexual assault claims

The Bishop of Liverpool has been asked to “step aside” by senior clergy in his diocese who say that his position is “currently untenable” after Channel 4 News broadcast allegations of sexual assault and sexual harassment earlier this week. 

The allegations against Dr John Perumbalath were made by two different women, one in all whom is a female bishop who said she had been sexually harassed by him. Dr Perumbalath has denied all allegations against him.

The Church of England said that the feminine bishop’s grievance had been “explored” but “assessed to not be a safeguarding matter but a matter of alleged misconduct”.

It added that she had not brought a grievance inside the 12-month limitation set by the Clergy Discipline Measure (CDM), and that her application to accomplish that beyond the deadline had been refused. 

“The second complainant didn’t bring a CDM grievance inside the one-year deadline. She later applied for permission to bring it after the deadline, which the Archbishop of York [Stephen Cottrell] fully supported,” a spokesperson for the Church of England said. 

“However, this was refused by an independent judge, the Deputy President of Tribunals.

“Archbishop Stephen has supported the complainant pastorally throughout the method and continues to supply practical help. He had no part within the decision-making around safeguarding or disciplinary matters.”

A letter has now been written by senior clergy within the Diocese of Liverpool to the Archbishop of York asking for a full investigation into the feminine bishop’s grievance. 

“Having listened to clergy, congregations and staff on the diocesan offices and the cathedral it’s with deep regret that the senior leadership of the Diocese of Liverpool feel that the position of the Rt Revd Dr John Perumbalath is currently untenable,” they said.

“We consider that the allegations made by the feminine bishop should be fully and properly investigated. We also consider that while these proper investigations are conducted the Bishop of Liverpool might want to step except for all ministry within the Diocese of Liverpool.” 

The letter has been signed by Debra Walker, Chair of the House of Laity of the Liverpool Diocesan Synod, Peter Dawkin, Chair of the House of Clergy of the Liverpool Diocesan Synod, Sue Jones, Dean of Liverpool, Pete Spiers, Archdeacon of Knowsley & Sefton, Miranda Threlfall-Holmes, Archdeacon of Liverpool, and Simon Fisher, Archdeacon of St Helens and Warrington.

The second grievance got here from a lady within the Diocese of Chelmsford who said she was sexually assaulted by Dr Perumbalath on three separate occasions.

She alleged that at a diocesan away day in 2019, Dr Perumbalath “kissed me forcefully on my mouth, which I didn’t like and I didn’t want. I attempted to maneuver away, but he was holding my head too tightly”.

She alleged that at the tip of a gathering in 2022, “As he was letting go of hugging me, he ran his hands past the side of my breasts on either side, with a medium pressure, until he reached the sting of the areola.”

She also alleged that in January 2023, Dr Perumbalath “pressed his face against my face, said ‘I like you’ quietly in my ear, and moved his mouth to slightly below my ear, on the heart beat point on my neck. He opened his mouth, took a chunk of my skin between his lips, and let go”.

The Church of England said that the National Safeguarding Team (NST) had investigated the grievance and “concluded that there have been no ongoing safeguarding concerns, but a learning end result was identified with which the bishop fully engaged”. 

“The grievance was also investigated by the police which resulted in no further motion,” the spokesperson said. 

“The NST concluded that there was not sufficient evidence to bring a safeguarding-related grievance under the Clergy Discipline Measure (CDM) itself but offered the lady support if she wished to accomplish that. The NST continues to have contact, at her request, with the lady who got here forward and the offer of ongoing support stays.

“Some time subsequently, after hearing the main points of the grievance directly from the complainant, the Lead Safeguarding Bishop also offered advice and support to the lady if she wished to bring a CDM grievance. That offer also stays.”

Responding to the allegations, Dr John Perumbalath said: “The allegations set out on this programme are in relation to encounters that took place in public settings, with other people present. I even have consistently denied the allegations made against me by each complainants.

“I even have complied with any investigation from the National Safeguarding Team. The allegations raised in Essex were also investigated by the police who took no further motion.

“Whilst I don’t think I even have done anything incorrect, I even have taken seriously the teachings learnt through this process addressing how my actions could be perceived by others. I’ll comply with any investigation deemed mandatory. I take safeguarding very seriously and work hard to offer proper leadership on this area.”