We reported in April that the Bishop of Salisbury had stepped back from ministry. The Church of England has now issued the following press release.
Clergy Discipline complaints against Bishop of Salisbury
07/09/2026
An investigation into allegations of financial misconduct by the Bishop of Salisbury Stephen Lake has concluded. A disciplinary complaint under the Clergy Discipline Measure has now been brought against him.
Subsequent to these allegations, concerns relating to Bishop Stephen’s conduct were raised with the National Safeguarding Team. These have been taken very seriously and responded to according to House of Bishops Code of Practice. A second and separate disciplinary complaint under the Clergy Discipline Measure has been brought against Bishop Stephen in relation to these concerns.
Bishop Stephen remains stepped back from ministry.
If this statement causes distress, support is available through the independent Safe Spaces helpline on 0300 303 1056 or visit safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk.
Alternatively, you may wish to contact the diocesan safeguarding team in your area or the National Safeguarding Team at safeguarding@churchofengland.org.
It would seem that any hearing(s) will be in private as required by the CDM 2003 (as amended). Although the Clergy Conduct Measure 2026 has been enacted, its individual provisions come into force on dates (as yet unknown?) to be appointed by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. Under the CCM, hearings would be in public unless there were proper grounds to the contrary.
Whatever the merits of these specific cases, on which I will not speculate as they are now sub judice, I am pleased to see complaints against a serving Bishop proceeding beyond dismissal at the first stage. Early days, but perhaps some winds of change are beginning to blow. I hope so.
I, too, will not comment on the merits of these two CDM complaints, the details of which have not, in any event, been made public. However, my understanding from the press release is only that the complaints under the CDM have been ‘brought’. The first stage, therefore, is preliminary scrutiny by the registrar to determine whether the complainant has ‘a proper interest’ in bringing the respective complaint, and to ‘[form] a view as to whether or not there is sufficient substance in the complaint to justify proceeding with it in accordance with the following provisions of [the] Measure‘: see section… Read more »
Indeed, and however well-meant pastorally, referring at this stage to ‘victims’ isn’t appropriate.
Thank you David, I had the impression from sources other than this (though not involved in their consideration) that they were proceeding. I appreciate the clarification and will withhold my expression of welcome until such time as a complaint against whichever serving Bishop as it may be finally manages to get beyond initial scrutiny. On a different (but not unrelated) point, I, for one, will certainly welcome the application of the open justice principle when it finally arrives in the C of E.
Re open justice, I wholly agree. Too many interlocutory decisions made by the President of Tribunals, or his deputy (i.e. decisions made during the CDM process but before the complaint reaches a tribunal for trial and adjudication, if it does) are not routinely published, even they involve a ruling on a question of law, which ought to be made public to ensure consistency in decision-making.
“Bishop Stephen remains stepped back from ministry.” An offence against proper sentence construction. Disciplinary action called for. Who on earth writes these CofE press releases?
They have just made an IT manager the Chief Executive of the Charity Commissioners, so they have probably got the facilities managers doing the press releases.
Competence is clearly not a major consideration in recruitment these days in the Church of England.
I think you mean the CHURCH Commissioners
I am sorry to correct you, Peter, but they have not. They have made the interim CEO, – the permanent CEO – who was the COO previously and has years of experience in the charity and faith based sectors. The fact that most financial processes are now dealt and managed by complex CRMs, and money is managed by FinTech companies means that her previous skills will be put to good use. In the large charity sector, managing huge portfolios, promoting someone in this way is a sign of encouragement and stability.
“Years of experience” is a stretch. She has been with the Church Commissioners (Simon is correct) for five years.
There will obviously have been people with decades more relevant experience available.
Are we seriously expected to believe the appointment was made solely on the grounds of proven competence
As opposed to what? That is a dangerous allegation you are floating…
Please could any further discussion on the CEO be placed on the article which contains the news of her appointment.
Please could any further discussion on the new CEO be placed on the article which contains that announcement.
is there a timescale with the process? i.e If a CDM starts it has 60 days to complete its work?
No. The only time limitation in the CDM is that the complaint must be made within one year of the event(s) with exceptions in cases of sexual abuse of a child or a vulnerable adult. The President of Tribunals has authority to extend that period in other cases, if appropriate, and after consulting both the complainant and the respondent.
Why do you think “remains stepped back from ministry” is “an offence against proper sentence construction”?
I ask because I don’t think it’s a point of pedantry. My view is that it feels unnatural because language usage is in flux and I think that parallels the evolution of doctrine. Something can feel unnatural because doctrine is evolving but some people – for both language and doctrine- don’t feel it should evolve and prefer stasis to flux.
Kate, you are right about language being in flux. It’s changing very rapidly, and it takes time to assess which changes are helpful and which not. I think ‘remains stepped back from’ is both bad sentence construction and deliberately unclear. If we use the more traditional construction ‘remains at a step back from’, we can see how ambiguous it is. Is the bishop eschewing all ministry, or is he still managing the diocese at one remove? Is he still pulling the strings? Has he been suspended? If not, why not? Parish clergy are suspended for less, at the mere hint… Read more »
The Church Times has this (which has been updated since first publication)
https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2026/11-september/news/uk/bishop-of-salisbury-subject-to-disciplinary-complaint-after-financial-audit
and includes a statement by Bishop Stephen.
In a statement on Tuesday, Bishop Lake said: “I continue to stand back voluntarily from public ministry and I have co-operated fully with the investigations. I look forward to the opportunity to be able to respond to the allegations brought under the Clergy Discipline Measure.”
Presumably if he is standing back voluntarily he is not being paid. It would be different had he been suspended.
I think this question is squalid in the face of a deeply sad situation.
The bishop has not been found to be guilty of anything and hopefully he will not be.
The evidence is what it is. The financial issues are one issue, The safeguarding issues a second. At this stage formal hearings into the second have not commenced. To try to defend the respondent in this way is concerning. These are both serious allegations . From what I can gather secular authorities have not pressed charges on the financial allegations, and we are yet to see what transpires with the Safeguarding cases and given the total lack of transparency it will take either whistleblowers or a public hearing to break the secrecy . I don’t understand how it is “squalid”… Read more »
Many years ago the Daily Mirror referred to the defendant as “the murderer” when reporting during the course of a man’s trial. For that, the Editor was given a prison sentence for contempt of court. It’s an illusion that ‘free speech’ entitles us to say what we want and whenever we want.
The whole matter is sad and unpleasant enough.
If you had read what I had said, I expressed the hope that the bishop will be cleared of any impropriety.
That is not defending him as such.
It is an expression of care for him as a human being.
Heaven forfend that a priest should express care for another human being.
While he has not been found guilty of anything it seems squalid to question whether he should be deprived of his livelihood.
If you have problem with that I can only assume we worship different gods.
I absolutely agree with Rowland’s comment in this thread as well as highly value his contributions from his vast experience within the law. Sub judice is a really important safeguard for the administration of justice. In this new era of social media, the rules of sub judice protect both complainants and respondents. As Rowland has stated in previous comments the current situation with CDM statutes means that unlike in secular jurisdictions, evidence is not available publicly. This creates huge issues surrounding transperency and open justice. I understand the pastoral intent and the kindness and compassion behind your comment but at… Read more »
If he is genuinely simply refusing to do his job then of course he would not expect to be paid. But is he, or has he been leant on and, in effect, constructively suspended? If so he should be granted a formal suspension which would entitle him to be paid.
I don’t understand why ‘standing back’ or “remains stepped-back from ministry” have so exercised people and I’m not aware that this is recently-introduced usage. Stepping back in this context means voluntarily recusing oneself from a duty or function: it can, e.g., be an MP or councillor where a potential conflict of interest might arise; I have seen the chair of a bench of Magistrates literally moving back in such a situation; it’s not uncommon in other situations. The Bishop of Salisbury stated at the outset that he was stepping back from his role while allegations involving him were being investigated;… Read more »
Thanks Rowland,
Your comments on TA are always really helpful regarding the complexities of Canon Law and of course the secular law.
The time you spend responding to some complex and often controversial subjects is greatly appreciated given the often confusing legal landscapes of both Canon and secular law.
Thank you for those kind words. I’m no expert on canon law and maybe just a slight one on secular law. I largely comment on TA to fill the gaps left by others here, who I know to be experts, when they stay silent. I haven’t had access to a law library for more than 15 years (I’m housebound), and so have to rely largely on my memory and the internet as the research (largely updating) tool.
Magnificent contribution Rowland . Really appreciated.
I am so sorry to read that you are housebound Rowland. It must be difficult, especially as I understand that you were active as a church organist until fairly recently. I hope that TA at least allows you to stay in touch with people of similar (if slightly niche) interests.
Thank you, also, for those kind words. I’m mentally very active: the problems are physical. Music, architecture, history, travel (now armchair travel), law – and the C of E! – are active interests. I was only ever an organist of modest capability but, alongside a few longer-term posts and special services, I was largely a roving deputy (‘a wandering minstrel’ you might say) and clocked up 27 churches, I think, over four decades in the Winchester diocese. Inevitably these were mainly rural ones for which I had and retain a great affection for the people and the ancient buildings.
27 churches is an impressive total and represents a substantial contribution to the life of the church. I would imagine it must be interesting and challenging in equal measure as I understand each organ is different.
And in some details so is the liturgy. Sadly few choirs left in country churches. Choice of hymns and the speed at which they are used to singing them vary. I enjoyed friendly relations with the clergy and had some interesting ones: a retired Irish bishop, a housemaster from Winchester College who had played cricket for England and one (without being unkind) wonderfully eccentric! Interesting people, country folk. I greatly admired a dairy farmer from one remote village up in the hills who had hardly been anywhere, never abroad, who went into battle-zone Kosovo as an aid volunteer. Lots of… Read more »
Of course he’s still being paid, and so he should be. What an asinine suggestion.
The very sad situation in both Salisbury and Lincoln Dioceses surely requires our prayers . Thank goodness in Derby Diocese the Bishop is off sick and there is no hint of impropriety. Also prayers for ++ Sarah as these situations must be of concern.