The Church of England’s National Safeguarding Team said it received fresh information concerning the former Bishop of Chichester, who died 60 years ago.
The new information, which has not been disclosed to the public, comes after the publication of the Carlile Review, which found the Church was too quick to accept the allegations of the Bishop Bell’s complainant “without serious investigation or inquiry”.
The Church of England said the new information “is now being considered through the Core Group and in accordance with Lord Carlile’s recommendations”.
The Church added: “The Core Group is now in the process of commissioning an independent investigation in respect of these latest developments.”
Sussex Police have been notified about the new development and the Church said it will work collaboratively with them.
Claims made by a woman known only as “Carol” of abuse by Bishop Bell when she was aged between five and eight in the 1950s led the Church to issue an apology and pay £15,000 in compensation.
However, the inquiry was widely criticised for failing to investigate the victim’s claims or seek witnesses who had known or worked for Bishop Bell during his tenure as Bishop of Chichester between 1929 and 1958.
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