Bishop accusations must be ‘properly investigated’, says Archdeacon of Liverpool – Channel 4 News
6m
30 Jan 2025

Bishop accusations must be ‘properly investigated’, says Archdeacon of Liverpool

Presenter

We spoke to the Archdeacon of Liverpool, the Venerable Miranda Threlfall-Holmes, and asked her what it says about the Archbishop of York’s judgement that he’s supported the Bishop of Liverpool for almost two years since he first learned of these allegations.

Miranda Threlfall-Holmes: I don’t think I can really answer that question because obviously when there are concerns like this raised quite properly, they’re not dealt with within the diocese itself. They’re dealt with outside of the diocese to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest. And so I’ve not been party to those discussions.

Cathy Newman: But the point is that the Archbishop of York has apparently been content for the Bishop of Liverpool to remain in post until we exposed these allegations just two days ago, and then suddenly the Bishop of Liverpool retires. What does that say about the judgement of the man leading the church?

Miranda Threlfall-Holmes: I really don’t know what’s been going on, but certainly what we’ve all said from the Diocese of Liverpool is we want to make sure that these allegations are properly investigated. That does need to happen.

Cathy Newman: You do know what was going on on the committee because you were on that committee that oversaw the appointment of Bishop John, the promotion of Bishop John. Did you feel bullied by the Archbishop of York on that committee?

Miranda Threlfall-Holmes: I didn’t. We all, when we go on to one of the CNCs, have to swear a solemn oath that we won’t talk about any of the detail of what went on. and so I’m afraid I can’t go into any great detail, but I can say I did not personally feel bullied or coerced.

Cathy Newman: But it is extraordinary, isn’t it, that someone has felt so angered by what they say went on on that committee that they’ve given us a detailed written account. That says something, doesn’t it, really?

Miranda Threlfall-Holmes: It is really concerning. And I know that the there’s been a review of the way the crown nomination commissions are being run. And I gather there’s a report coming to general signalled in a couple of weeks’ time suggesting some changes to the way they run.

Cathy Newman: You were one of the people who called for the Bishop of Liverpool to go yesterday. You wrote that very powerful letter about his position. Why did you feel moved to do that?

Miranda Threlfall-Holmes: We’ve been talking within the diocese since since you broke these stories and what we’ve kept hearing from people, from clergy, from staff in the diocesan offices, from members of our congregations ,was a real sense of, if these allegations, or allegations like this, came up in any normal line of work, the normal, natural thing to do would be for the person involved to step back while they were investigated. And it seemed to them and it seems to us that that would be the correct thing to happen in this case.

Cathy Newman: It’s extraordinary, isn’t it, that the bishop who complained about Bishop John – we now know that’s Bev Mason, we we’ve known that for a few days, but she’s identified herself today. She’s one of your colleagues. And she ended up going on study leave for nearly 18 months while the man she accused has remained in post until today. Is that acceptable?

Miranda Threlfall-Holmes: It seems very strange and I think I don’t feel I can speak for Bishop Bev in what’s gone on there. Obviously, her statement is a very powerful statement. And I think everyone feels that situation. But it was quite clear from what she said to members of the diocese that she didn’t want this kind of exposure to happen. So I don’t feel comfortable talking for her.

Cathy Newman: But, you know, many people, many senior people, were told about these complaints about Bishop John. And yet no action was taken until it was exposed by the media. What does that say about the attitude of the church to victims of abuse or alleged victims of abuse?

Miranda Threlfall-Holmes: It is really concerning, isn’t it? And I think we all really feel the weight of that in Liverpool today. We know that things need to change in the way that the church is organising, safeguarding. Over the last year I’ve been part of a group looking at Professor Jay’s recommendations of how we can build in a much more robust, independent scrutiny and operation of church safeguarding functions. And I really hope that Synod are going to support that overwhelmingly in a couple of weeks’ time.

Cathy Newman: What we’ve seen with the church is cover-up after cover-up. When is this going to end?

Miranda Threlfall-Holmes: I don’t know the answer to that, Cathy, but I’m really hoping that over these last few months, as the weight of reports and recommendations has been gathering, that what we might be seeing here is some sort of turning points in people really realising the way in which we need to really properly approach these things.

Cathy Newman: You look really saddened and worn out by it all. Is that reading too much into your expression? What do you feel about all this tonight?

Miranda Threlfall-Holmes: No, I think that’s fair. This is really sad and really distressing for everyone concerned. And, you know, as one of the people left in leadership in the diocese, there’s a real weight of of holding other people’s anger and frustration about this whole process. So I think we’re all feeling that tonight.