Bishop Perham considers a change in the law

A FORMER Bishop of Gloucester, the Rt Revd Michael Perham, has said that he thinks the law, media, and police need "looking at", after his name and the allegations made against him were "bandied around in the national media". He was not arrested or charged over historic allegations of indecent assault made last year (News, 8 August 2014), and was cleared to take up ministry in retirement (News, 15 May).

Six-figure sum for man in historic child-abuse case

A SIX-FIGURE sum has been paid by the Church's insurers, Ecclesiastical, to a man who says that he suffered years of abuse at the hands of a priest. The man, now a married father in his 30s, said that the Revd Terence King had subjected him as a child to sexual, physical, and mental abuse. Mr King committed suicide in 2002 while on bail facing allegations of historic child abuse (News, 29 August 2003). A spokesman for West Yorkshire & the Dales said that Mr King had "grossly misused his position of trust, and the diocese deeply regrets the harm he caused".

Images: A Nottingham priest, the Revd Andrew Waude, has been given a three-year community order, after admitting at Nottingham Crown Court to possessing indecent images of children. A spokesperson for the diocese of Southwell & Nottingham said on Wednesday that Mr Waude remained suspended, and would be subject to a disciplinary procedure under the Clergy Discipline Measure.

Red-tape challenge for bell-ringers in Kent

THE members of a band of bell-ringers have had to go to what The Daily Telegraph described as "extraordinary lengths" to open a bank account. The treasurer, Neil Campbell, of Chartham, Kent, filled in an 18-page application form for the Co-operative Bank, and a "Facta" form to comply with the American Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, and provided a reference from his priest. He finally baulked at being asked to provide bank details for each of the group's 12 members. The Co-operative Bank cited the "legal and regulatory requirements set for the industry".

Canon Woodward to be Principal of Sarum College

THE next Principal of Sarum College will be the Revd Dr James Woodward, who is currently Canon Steward of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. He will take up the post on 1 October.