Interim bishop replaces cleric facing assault claims

An acting bishop is to be installed in a Church of England diocese where the previous bishop stepped down following allegations of sexual assault.

The current Bishop of Taunton Rt Rev Ruth Worsley is to be interim Bishop of Liverpool just under a month after the resignation of Dr John Perumbalath.

The bishop resigned at the end of January after an allegation of sexual assault against him was broadcast by Channel 4 News.

Dr Perumbalath denied the allegations, but said that he did not want the story to be "a distraction for this incredible diocese and its people whom it has been an honour and joy to serve".

A commissioning service for Bishop Worsley is expected to take place after Easter.

The new temporary bishop said she was looking forward to working with the leadership team, clergy and laity of a "vibrant and faithful community".

She also said the church had to listen to the voices of those who raised safeguarding issues.

Bishop Worsley will serve for two years until the King appoints a permanent Bishop of Liverpool.

To take on this role, she has been appointed as suffragan bishop for the newly activated See of Wigan, which is part of the Diocese of Liverpool.

Under church rules she needs an official connection to the diocese to give her legal authorisation to act in the diocese and her appointment to the See of Wigan gives her this power.

She is currently the Bishop of Taunton but will begin begin meeting people in Liverpool and performing official legal duties while completing her ministry there, the Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell says.

He added he was "deeply grateful" to the Diocese of Bath and Wells for "releasing her to support Liverpool in this time of change".

The word see comes from the Latin sedes, meaning "seat".

It refers to the episcopal chair occupied by a bishop and the area over which they have responsibility.

Crockford's Clerical Directory, the official guide to Anglican clergy and churches in Britain and Ireland lists Wigan as a suffragan see which is "never filled".

At the appointing of a permanent Bishop of Liverpool, the See of Wigan is expected to again lapse.

In a statement about the appointment, a spokesperson for the Diocese of Liverpool said it welcomed the decision to appoint Bishop Worsley for an interim period.

The statement added: "Her experience and wisdom will be a great addition to the leadership of our diocese over the next two years.

"We are very grateful to Bishop Ruth for being willing to respond to this call and the Diocese of Bath and Wells for enabling her to take up this ministry with us. We look forward to welcoming her in due course as she comes to lead our diocese in this next phase."

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