bishops palaces

The rising cost of maintaining the palaces of Church of England bishops may be met by cutting spending on parish missions it emerged yesterday.

The Commissioners of the Church of England, responsible for over £4 billion of investments, have withdrawn from a controversial £2.5 million house purchase for the next Bishop of Oxford.

The Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, the Rt Rev John Packer, has become the latest prelate to announce plans to move to more modest accommodation