A FORMER Bishop of Bradwell, whose ministry involves the Deanery of Thurrock, has been subject to an investigation relating to sexual abuse. 

The Right Reverend Dr John Perumbalath, currently the Bishop of Liverpool, has been accused of assaulting two women, it has been reported in a Channel 4 News investigation.

It said one woman was allegedly assaulted in the diocese of Chelmsford, where he was Bishop of Bradwell, and based in Horndon on the Hill, on separate occasions between 2019 and 2023. 

A female bishop also told Channel 4 News she was sexually harassed by him.

It is the second incident in recent months to raise concerns about senior church members in the region. 

Late last year Thurrock Nub News reported on disciplinary action against a priest who served in South Essex for more than two decades, including a time assisting colleagues in Thurrock, under jurisdiction of the Bishop of Bradwell. 

The Rev David Tudor, recently Rector of Canvey Island in the Diocese of Chelmsford, was removed from his post as Rector by the Bishop of Southwark's Disciplinary Tribunal following a hearing.

In a statement on the latest allegations, Bishop Perumbalath said he had "consistently denied" the accusations against him, adding police had investigated them but taken no further action.

Channel 4 News said Bishop Perumbalath, who was enthroned Bishop of Liverpool in 2023, was interviewed voluntarily under caution by police in March last year.

Bishop Perumbalath said: "The allegations set out in this programme are in relation to encounters that took place in public settings, with other people present. 

"I have consistently denied the allegations made against me by both complainants. 

"I 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 action.

"Whilst I don't believe I have done anything wrong, I have taken seriously the lessons learnt through this process addressing how my actions can be perceived by others. 

"I will comply with any investigation deemed necessary. 

"I take safeguarding very seriously and work hard to provide proper leadership in this area".

The Church of England said it had also investigated the complaints, with a complaint of alleged misconduct first made in early in 2023.

A spokesperson said the investigation "concluded that there were no ongoing safeguarding concerns, but a learning outcome was identified with which the bishop fully engaged".

"The complaint was also investigated by the police which resulted in no further action."

The statement continued: "Shortly after the start of this process a further disclosure was made by another woman.

"The information brought by the second complainant was explored and assessed not to be a safeguarding matter but a matter of alleged misconduct.

"Pastoral support has been provided throughout for the second complainant and is ongoing."

Bishop Perumbalath, originally from Kerala in South India, was ordained into the Church of North India in 1994.

He moved to the UK in 2001, first taking up positions in the Diocese of Rochester.

The dismissal and controversial incidents surrounding Rev Taylor also brought a focus on the management of senior UK clergyman The Most Reverend Stephen Cottrell, who came under fire for not acting on reports about one of his priests.

Stephen Cottrell, now the Archbishop of York and acting head of the Church of England, was the boss of Bishop Perumbalath during his time in Essex.

Archbishop Stephen Cottrell.

Archbishop Cottrell faced calls to resign over his handling of David Taylor's case.

On his appointment to Liverpool, Bishop Cottrell said of Bishop Perumbalath: "John is a person of huge vision and integrity, a biblical scholar, a champion for justice, a loving pastor and a humble and good-humoured disciple of Jesus Christ.  

"John will be a new and compelling voice for the Christian faith in the Liverpool diocese, across the north and in the life of our nation." 

In a statement last month, Archbishop Cottrell said: "The Church of England now needs independent scrutiny of safeguarding so that those who do have understandable frustrations and concerns can have their voices heard and those of us who have responsibility for managing these situations can be helped to avoid them and resolve them.

"I have publicly supported this for many years. I pledge myself to do what I can to achieve it."

Also in December The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, announced that he was quitting following his mismanagement of allegations of abuse within the CoE.