The Charity Commission has taken the unprecedented step of issuing official warnings against two Church of England charities for serious failures in handling safeguarding allegations, which culminated in the resignation of a senior bishop.
Unprecedented Regulatory Action
This marks the first time the regulator has issued an official warning against any Church of England diocese. The charities involved are the Liverpool Diocesan Board of Finance and the Chelmsford Diocesan Board of Finance, both registered entities that promote the Church's work in their areas.
The failings centre on allegations made against John Perumbalath, who served as the Bishop of Liverpool and, prior to that, as the Bishop of Bradwell within the Chelmsford diocese. The commission found that both charities mismanaged the administration of their safeguarding duties in relation to these complaints.
Details of the Allegations and Resignation
Mr Perumbalath stepped down as Bishop of Liverpool in January 2025, without admitting fault or liability. His resignation followed a Channel 4 News report which revealed that one woman had accused him of non-consensual kissing and groping, while another alleged sexual harassment.
The second complainant publicly identified herself last year as Beverley Mason, the then-Bishop of Warrington, who resigned in September. In a statement at the time, she emphasised the "biblical imperative" that "a bishop cannot be above the law".
The commission's investigation revealed a systemic breakdown. Trustees in both charities who were aware of the allegations failed to take appropriate action, lacking the procedures to allow their full boards to assess risks and decide on a response.
Specific Failings and Charities' Responses
For the Chelmsford charity, the warning highlighted a failure lasting about two years to report a serious incident to the commission. This related to a January 2023 complaint about alleged sexual misconduct by Mr Perumbalath during his time as Bishop of Bradwell.
The Liverpool charity's trustees were found to have failed to consider or investigate a complaint and did not act in the charity's best interests to protect people from harm.
In a joint statement, the Bishop of Chelmsford, Guli Francis-Dehqani, and the diocesan safeguarding officer, Amanda Knight, said they "respectfully disagree" with some conclusions and found the warning "disproportionate". They insisted their response was "robust and survivor-led" but committed to working with the regulator.
The Liverpool charity trustees accepted the findings, apologised for the shortcomings, and stated they have already made changes to strengthen governance.
Broader Church Context and Next Steps
This case emerged during a tumultuous period for the Church of England regarding safeguarding, which saw Justin Welby quit as Archbishop of Canterbury months earlier over a separate case.
David Holdsworth, Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, stated: "Lack of appropriate policies and procedures led to a failure to ensure that serious allegations against a senior figure were properly considered." The commission will monitor both charities as they implement recommendations, which include:
- Understanding guidance on taking reasonable steps to protect people from harm.
- Ensuring safeguarding information reaches full trustee boards, not just delegated individuals.
- Reporting serious incidents to the commission promptly.
Failure to comply could lead to further action, including trustee disqualification.
The Church of England's lead safeguarding bishop, Joanne Grenfell, and national safeguarding director, Alexander Kubeyinje, said the Church takes the warning seriously. They will review the findings' relevance for all 42 dioceses and cathedrals, with detailed reform proposals to be presented to next month's General Synod.
Last year, Mr Perumbalath stressed he consistently denied the allegations and complied with the Church's safeguarding investigation. In a January 2025 statement, he said, "Whilst I don't believe I have done anything wrong, I have taken seriously the lessons learnt."
