Bishop John Perumbalath faces allegations of sexual assault and harassment, raising concerns over leadership accountability within the Church of England.
A senior Church of England bishop responsible for overseeing discipline has been accused of sexually assaulting and harassing two women, with claims of a cover-up reaching the church’s leadership.
John Perumbalath, the Bishop of Liverpool, allegedly assaulted a woman multiple times between 2019 and 2023 while serving as a bishop in Essex, according to a Channel 4 News investigation.
The Church’s interim leader, Archbishop Stephen Cottrell, has been accused of failing to act despite knowing about the allegations before Perumbalath’s formal appointment.
One woman described an incident from 2019 in which Perumbalath allegedly forcefully kissed her, restraining her head to prevent her from pulling away. Another claimed that in 2022, during a hug at the end of a meeting, he ran his hands past the side of her breasts.
Despite the allegations, Perumbalath denies any wrongdoing, stating that all interactions took place in public settings and that he has cooperated with all investigations. Police previously looked into the claims but took no further action due to insufficient evidence.
A second woman, a fellow bishop, also accused Perumbalath of sexual harassment but was unable to pursue a formal complaint due to time limitations.
These revelations have intensified scrutiny of the Church’s handling of misconduct allegations, with critics calling for greater transparency and accountability.