Justin Welby made the comments in a statement on Thursday after the Church’s national safeguarding team published findings of an inquiry which found the latest allegations against the late former bishop of Chichester were “unfounded”.
In January last year, the Church of England handed “fresh information” to Sussex Police about Bishop Bell.
This followed news a woman, only known as Carol, who claimed she was abused by Bell in the 1950s when she was aged between five and eight, was paid £15,000 in compensation and received an apology from the church.
The latest inquiry was commissioned by the Church and carried out by senior ecclesiastical lawyer Timothy Briden, the vicar general of Canterbury.
In the report, he said his finding “excludes any reconsideration of the validity” of original allegations made against Bell and instead focuses only on the fresh information handed to police last year.
He concluded: “Concentrating exclusively upon the allegations remitted to me, I have decided that they are unfounded.”
Most Rev Welby said Bishop Bell was a “remarkable role model”, adding: “I apologise unreservedly for the mistakes made in the process surrounding the handling of the original allegation against Bishop George Bell.
“I recognise this has been an extremely difficult period for all concerned and I apologise equally to…
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