A FORMER chaplain to the Bishop of Winchester has been questioned by police over historic sexual assualt allegations.

The Rt Revd Michael Perham, now Bishop of Gloucester, was interviewed under caution concerning allegations that he indecently assaulted a girl under 18 and a woman over 18 more than 30 years ago, while working as a curate in Croydon.

The 66-year-old was due to retire in several months’ time after ten years in the Gloucester diocese, with a cathedral service set to take place in November to mark his decade in the city.

But last Friday the married father-of-four announced that he was stepping back from his duties with immediate effect.

The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that a 66-year-old man was interviewed under caution concerning incidents alleged to have taken place between 1980 and 1981, but said he had not been arrested.

A diocesan spokesman said that it was a police matter and they had no further comment to make.

Perham left South London in 1981 to become chaplain to the then Bishop of Winchester the Rt Revd John Taylor.

He remained in the post for three years, before becoming Team Rector of the Oakdale Team Ministry in Poole.