Church of England faces new crisis as Bishop of Liverpool is accused of sexual assaults – and ex-Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby’s interim replacement is embroiled in new ‘cover-up’ claims

The church of England is confronted tonight with a new crisis, because the bishop of Liverpool is accused of sexual attacks.

John Perumbalath is accused of sexual abuse of a woman in the diocese of Chelmsford on individual occasions between 2019 and 2023.

The drawer

This is a crushing new story. More to follow.