Ball was jailed in 2015 for sexually abusing 18 young men over three decades, but this was 20 years after allegations against him had been largely downplayed or overlooked by the church.
Bishop Peter Hancock, the Church of England’s lead safeguarding bishop, said: “We have been made aware of the death of Peter Ball and our prayers and thoughts are with everyone affected by this news.”
Church leaders are expected to make contact with Ball’s survivors and the Church will be offering support to his family as with anyone who is bereaved in the Church.
Ball, of Langport in Somerset, was Bishop of Lewes between 1977 and 1992 and Bishopof Gloucester from 1992 until he resigned the following year.
He was jailed for 32 months for offences against 18 teenagers and men over three decades. He was released in 2017.
Ball’s twin brother Michael was Bishop of Truro from 1990 to 1997.
Ball, who was a self-styled confidant to the Prince of Wales, was an example of how a senior member of the Anglican church “was able to sexually abuse vulnerable teenagers and young men for decades” while victims were largely ignored, according to a report by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) earlier this year.
In its scathing findings, the IICSA accused the Church of England of “putting its own reputation above the needs of victims” and offering secrecy and protection for…
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