MP raises bishop row

From the archive, first published Wednesday 1st Feb 2006.

Controversial Church of England plans to buy a £2.5m house for the next Bishop of Oxford have been attacked in the Commons.

Pullens End, in Headington, is being targeted by the Church to house the successor to the Rt Rev Richard Harries, who retires this year.

Labour MP and former vicar Chris Bryant stepped up the pressure on the Church, which is also selling off the homes of disadvantaged families in south London.

Mr Bryant said the Church's disposal of Octavia Hill estates to raise money was at odds with proposals for such a lavish bishop's palace.

He told the Commons: "Many of the wider public find this policy extremely odd, especially when the Church Commissioners are planning to buy a new palace for the Bishop of Oxford for £2.4m.

"I mean no disrespect to the Bishop of Oxford -- indeed, he is a very fine man, who will retire soon -- but do bishops really need so many bedrooms in their palaces?"

But Second Church Estates Commissioner Sir Stuart Bell would not talk about Pullens End, claiming that it was a different subject.

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