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Senior church figure covering Channel Islands steps down amid financial irregularities investigation

Senior church figure covering Channel Islands steps down amid financial irregularities investigation
  • Bishop of Salisbury Stephen Lake has stepped down voluntarily amid allegations of financial irregularities
  • An audit is being conducted into two separate funds related to the bishop's office
  • Bishop of Sherborne Karen Gorham will cover Lake's duties during the investigation
  • Lake has also resigned as a trustee of the Church Commissioners, which manages £11.1bn in assets
  • The 62-year-old bishop took on his role in 2022 and previously served as Dean of Gloucester Cathedral
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The Bishop of Salisbury has voluntarily stepped down from his position while an investigation into alleged financial irregularities takes place.

The Right Reverend Stephen Lake has temporarily relinquished his duties as the most senior Church of England figure in the Diocese of Salisbury, which encompasses most of Dorset, Wiltshire and the Channel Islands.

The Right Reverend Karen Gorham, Bishop of Sherborne, will assume his responsibilities during the audit process, according to the Diocese of Salisbury.

The Church of England has confirmed that an audit is underway following allegations relating to two separate funds connected to the Bishop of Salisbury's office.

A spokesperson for the Diocese of Salisbury clarified that the funds under investigation are "separate from parish share and other funds controlled by the Diocesan Board of Finance".

Lake, 62, has also stepped down from his position as a trustee of the Church Commissioners, the body responsible for managing the Church of England's investment assets, which were valued at £11.1bn at the end of 2024.

The bishop, who grew up in Poole, Dorset, was ordained as a priest in 1989 and served as Dean of Gloucester Cathedral before taking on his current episcopal role in 2022.

No further details about the nature of the financial irregularities or the timeline for the investigation have been disclosed by the diocese or the Church of England.

Key terms

Diocese
A geographical area overseen by a bishop in the Church of England. It is made up of many individual parishes (local churches) and serves as an administrative and spiritual unit of the church.
Guernsey and Jersey became part of the Diocese of Salisbury in 2022, transferring from Winchester Diocese. This change affects how church governance and episcopal oversight work for Channel Islands churches.
Episcopal
Relating to a bishop or bishops. In Church of England context, it refers to the system of church governance through bishops who have authority over clergy and parishes in their diocese.
The Bishop of Salisbury now provides episcopal oversight for Guernsey churches, meaning he is responsible for their spiritual leadership and administrative guidance as the senior church figure.
Parish Share
The voluntary financial contribution that each local parish (church) pays to their diocese to fund clergy salaries, church operations, and shared diocesan services. It is the main way parishes support the wider church structure.
Channel Islands parishes now contribute their parish share to Salisbury Diocese rather than Winchester, representing a significant change in how local church funding flows.
Diocesan Board of Finance
The financial management body of each diocese that handles money matters, employs staff, manages properties, and oversees the collection and distribution of parish contributions. It acts as the diocese's financial executive.
The article clarifies that the funds under investigation are separate from those controlled by Salisbury's Diocesan Board of Finance, distinguishing between different financial streams within the diocese.
Church Commissioners
A body that manages the Church of England's historic investment assets and property portfolio worth over £11 billion. They use investment returns to support clergy pensions, cathedral funding, and various church missions.
The Bishop's resignation from this trustee role affects governance of assets that support the entire Church of England, including newly-transferred Channel Islands parishes.
Suffragan Bishop
An assistant bishop who helps the main diocesan bishop with their duties. They have authority to perform episcopal functions but serve under the diocesan bishop's overall leadership.
The Bishop of Sherborne mentioned in the article is a suffragan bishop who will temporarily take over duties while the main Bishop of Salisbury steps aside during the investigation.

Q&A

Q: Why has the Bishop of Salisbury stepped down?
A: The Right Reverend Stephen Lake has stepped down voluntarily while allegations of potential financial irregularities are investigated through an audit.

Q: Who will cover the bishop's duties during the investigation?
A: The Right Reverend Karen Gorham, Bishop of Sherborne, will assume his responsibilities during the audit process.

Q: What funds are being investigated?
A: Two separate funds related to the office of the Bishop of Salisbury are being audited, which are separate from parish share and other funds controlled by the Diocesan Board of Finance.

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