Church loses legacy over paedophile bishop ‘myth’

A BENEFACTOR has changed his will in protest at the Archbishop of Canterbury’s “perpetuation of the myth” that Bishop George Bell was a paedophile.

Christopher Hoare, a scion of the Hoare banking dynasty, had planned to leave £50,000 to Chichester Cathedral when he died. But the 86-year-old has ordered the trustees not to give the cathedral a penny until the reputation of the bishop, one of the most revered of the 20th century, is restored.

The Church of England will inevitably fear other potential donors may follow suit as the backlash against the Archbishop’s stance intensifies.

Chichester Cathedral removed Bishop Bell’s name from nearby George Bell House after paying compensation to a woman who claimed she had been abused by him as a child almost 70 years ago. The house was renamed 4 Canon Lane as a consequence.

But a campaign by Bishop Bell’s supporters forced the Church of England to commission an independent review by Lord Carlile QC. He concluded the bishop’s reputation had been “wrongly and unnecessarily damaged severely”.

Mr Hoare has written to Archbishop Justin Welby in protest at his continuing refusal to clear Bishop Bell, informing him the £50,000 legacy was being withdrawn. “Sadly, your attitude in persisting that there is still ‘a significant cloud’ over Bishop George Bell is so inexplicable,” wrote Mr Hoare, “that the £50,000 that I had left to Chichester Cathedral will not be forthcoming

‘The £50,000 I had left to Chichester Cathedral will not now be forthcoming’

until a building, now known as 4 Canon Lane, has its name restored to George Bell House.”

Mr Hoare also suggests that Archbishop Welby should resign, explaining that his “denial of natural justice to a highly respected Bishop, who had been dead for half a century” puts “your own position in jeopardy… for perpetuating the paedophile myth”.

Mr Hoare told The Daily Telegraph: “It is completely wrong. It is absolutely outrageous.”