Jane Chevous News Today

Stephen Cottrell tells General Synod ‘mistakes have been made’, while sacked safeguarding board member says ‘we did our job too well’

CONFIRMATION that the Bishop of Carlisle was given an “informal rebuke” for giving a clergyman paedophile a character reference has provoked an angry response from campaigners. The Rt Rev James Newcome wrote - and then withdrew - the reference for former Carlisle Cathedral canon Robert Bailey, 71, after he was convicted of abusing two schoolgirls. The Bishop yesterday repeated his apology for writing the reference. It came as the Church of England’s National Safeguarding Team comp...