THE Bishop of Salisbury, the Rt Revd Stephen Lake, has stepped back voluntarily as diocesan while a financial audit takes place, and has also resigned as a trustee of the Church Commissioners, the Church Times has learned.
A spokesperson for the Church of England said: “An ongoing financial audit is being undertaken following allegations of potential financial irregularities in relation to two separate funds.”
The diocese was set on Thursday evening to confirm to their clergy that Bishop Lake had voluntarily stepped back as diocesan bishop while the audit was ongoing.
A statement from the diocese of Salisbury said: “These funds relate to the office of the Bishop of Salisbury but are separate from parish share and other funds controlled by the Diocesan Board of Finance.”
It confirmed that the Bishop of Sherborne, the Rt Revd Karen Gorham, would be Acting Diocesan Bishop “during this period”.
On Sunday, Bishop Lake was absent from confirmations at Salisbury Cathedral. The Rt Revd Tim Thornton, an honorary assistant bishop in the diocese, stepped in to preside.
The news comes after it emerged, separately, last week that the chief executive of the Church Commissioners for England, John Worth, was stepping down (News, 2 April). A note on the Church of England website did not give any context, but said that the chief operating officer, Rosie Slater-Carr, would take over as interim chief executive.