Bishop of Salisbury Suspended Amid Financial and Safeguarding Allegations

The Bishop of Salisbury, the Right Reverend Stephen Lake, has been suspended from ministry by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The suspension follows two disciplinary complaints made against him under the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003.

Bishop Lake voluntarily stepped back from his duties in April after allegations of "financial irregularities" surfaced concerning two separate funds within his office. He also resigned as a trustee of the Church Commissioners, which oversees the Church of England's investment assets. Subsequently, concerns regarding the bishop's conduct were reported to the Church of England's National Safeguarding Team.

A spokesperson for the Church of England confirmed that the complaints will proceed to the next stage and that the bishop has been asked to respond to the allegations. The spokesperson emphasized that suspension is a neutral measure during the ongoing progression of the allegations.

Bishop Lake, 62, was appointed Bishop of Salisbury in April 2022. He was the most senior cleric in the Diocese of Salisbury, which encompasses most of Dorset, Wiltshire, and the Channel Islands. In a statement last month, Bishop Lake indicated his full cooperation with the investigations.

The Right Reverend Karen Gorham, Bishop of Sherborne, has been appointed as the Acting Bishop of Salisbury. In July, Bishop Gorham addressed the diocese, describing the safeguarding concerns, which reportedly relate to adults, as "shocking and distressing."

Salisbury Cathedral's Dean and Chapter also commented in July, calling the situation "deeply concerning." They stated that "the highest standards are expected of those who exercise leadership in the Church" and that "investigations which are transparent, thorough and unsparing in their conclusions are necessary." They added that while speculation should be avoided during the ongoing investigations, allegations of this nature suggest that individuals may have been distressed or harmed, and their prayers are with those individuals.

The Church Times reported that while police were informed of the concerns, they were not taking further action at that time. The National Safeguarding Team is responsible for handling serious safeguarding concerns and allegations against senior clergy within the Church of England.

Bishop Lake had previously been considered by some General Synod members as a potential successor to Justin Welby as Archbishop of Canterbury, following Welby's resignation in November 2024 amidst a safeguarding scandal.