LONDON — The Bishop of Liverpool, Right Rev. John Perumbalath, has stepped down amidst serious allegations involving sexual assault and harassment, intensifying the challenges faced by the Church of England as it tries to recover from a previous scandal involving its former leader.

Perumbalath’s resignation was prompted by a report from Channel Four earlier this week which detailed accusations from two women. One claimed that the bishop had kissed her without her consent and inappropriately touched her, while the other accused him of sexual harassment. The bishop acknowledged that these allegations had diverted attention away from his ministry, prompting his decision to resign.

In his statement, Perumbalath clarified, “This is not a resignation occasioned by fault or by any admission of liability. Rather, it has become clear that stepping back from my ministry and waiting for the completion of further reviews would mean a long period of uncertainty for the diocese and all those who serve it.”

His resignation comes in the wake of another significant upheaval within the Church, as it was recently affected by the departure of former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. Welby, who served as the spiritual leader of the global Anglican Communion, resigned following an independent probe that revealed he did not report incidents of ongoing physical and sexual abuse by a volunteer at Christian summer camps soon after he was informed.

The Church of England is now faced with the task of addressing these serious allegations, all while striving to restore trust and stability among its congregants and clergy. The ramifications of these incidents may continue to reverberate within the institution as it navigates this challenging period.