Roger Meekings, who carried out a 2009 past case review for the Diocese of Chichester, told the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse that information about clergy who were later jailed had not been in their personnel files.

They included former Bishop of Lewes Peter Ball and Canon Gordon Rideout, both of whom were later imprisoned.

He told the London hearing into abuse in the Anglican church that the so-called “blue files” on staff were also often missing Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check data.

He said he had been told “the previous bishop had a habit of ‘filleting’ the blue files”.

Public hearings are taking place this week to examine how the religious order handled paedophilia allegations stretching back to the 1950s, first focusing on Chichester.

Such sexual abuse may have thrived in the Anglican church due to an “excessive emphasis” on forgiving offenders in its ranks, the inquiry earlier heard.

Ball was jailed for 32 months in 2015 for abusing boys. But 22 years previously, in 1993, he was investigated and let off with a caution for gross indecency by police after abusing a trainee monk.

The inquiry heard that a 470-page correspondence file on Ball existed.

But Mr Meekings, a former social worker and ex-head of children’s services in East Sussex, said that although it had run to 290 pages at the time of his reports, what he had been shown had not been…

Despite the two men trading insults for months, the leaders are expected to hold face-to-face talks by May.

Christian Conservative MP Gary Streeter, who is a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on North Korea, told Premier that while he is surprised by the potential meeting, he remains cautiously hopeful.

Speaking during Premier’s News Hour about his reaction to Mr Trump’s decision, he said:” I am surprised but if it triggers some kind of breakthrough for the people of North Korea then of course it would be very welcome indeed.”

The new development would put two leaders who have repeatedly insulted, threatened and dismissed each other in the same room, possibly in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang.

It would have been an unthinkable suggestion just a few months ago, when the insults were at their peak.

The North Korean dictator called Mr Trump a “senile dotard”, while Mr Kim was labelled a “Little Rocket Man” by the US president.

Meanwhile, the North was firing off regular weapons tests in a dogged march towards its goal of developing a viable nuclear arsenal that can threaten the US mainland.

Mr Streeter told Premier its important Christians begin praying for the leaders before they meet.

“We should as Christians be praying about this meeting. It is important that we pray about big global events and pray for our leaders.

“I think that one of the things that…

John Delahaye from Ettington was due to stand trial on Monday, but was pronounced dead exactly a week beforehand.

The 46-year-old was charged with attempted murder, making threats to kill, wounding, and two counts of possessing a bladed weapon.

Delahaye was arrested on Sunday 10th September last year after a church elder and two other men suffered injuries during a service at the New Jerusalem Apostolic Church in Aston.

Adam Brooks, who was injured in the attack, told Premier he had mixed emotions when he found out about Delahaye’s death.

“It’s very sad to hear because he was person, he had a family,” he said.

“It still matters that he was a person and I would have never wanted anyone to die. But I do feel a bit disappointed because I did think the trial would be the moment of closure to move forward and let go of this whole thing.”

Brooks said he is reminded of the attack every day as he has scars on his neck and hand.

Thanks for all of your messages of support and prayers. I’m recovering well. #LevelUp pic.twitter.com/JcbONF95SH

— Adam Brooks // #LevelUp (@AdamBrux) September 11, 2017

He added: “I can’t change anything now. He’s no longer here to tell him how I feel. I can’t allow this thing to hold me back because there’s nothing I can do about it.

“I have to literally pray for myself, pray for him and his family and hope the long term picture is that I’m able…

Rev Mike Weaver, 49, used to co-own Los Locos, a venue which prides itself on being Covent Garden’s longest happy hour bar but after resisting a call to ministry for ten years, he decided it was finally time to ditch the nightclub business.

Expalining what led that decision, he said in a statement: “My 20’s saw me with little time for church, instead concentrating on the world of work, sport, motorbikes and life in general. Over time, I fell out of love with the nightclub business.

“The late nights, the drunks and all that goes with it made me realise that the industry was not one I felt comfortable working in so I left in 2008. God had been working in my life since an Alpha course in 2000, after which I slowly sensed a calling into ministry.

“I strenuously sought to resist the call, and managed to do so for almost about a decade.”

Rev Weaver enrolled in New College in Edinburgh to study divinity in 2012 and after graduating in 2015, and completed placements in a number of churches.

He has been ordained as the minister of Gillespie Memorial Church in Dunfermiline, which is his first full-time charge.

Rev Weaver, who was raised in the Methodist Church and has lived in the south of France and Australia, said his ambition was to lead a congregation in “faithful obedience” to the Gospel and making Jesus known to more…

Ranging from a silent disco to meeting ‘Ace’ from the television show Gladiator and a floral festival, Dr John Sentamu has got support from local Anglicans, Methodists, United Reformists and members of the Salvation Army.

Describing the four-day Moving Mountains movement, Dr John Sentamu told Premier: “We’re absolutely very evangelistic in what we’re doing.

“That’s all I look forward to; just to be given Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday doing nothing but talking about the saviour who died, rose again and wants people to be restored with one another and with God, out of whom we find life in all its fullness.”

Among the 500 events scheduled are a photographic exhibition, quiz night, country market, a dialect evening and a strongman act.

Dr John added: “This is all kinds of different projects; I’ve got a few lectures to give but at the end of those lectures I’m actually telling them that without knowing Christ, life is pretty not what it’s supposed to be.”

Described as the first event of its kind in the country, Moving Mountains is being promoted with the slogan “God loves you more than you will ever know”.

It’s intended to encourage congregations to reach out to their communities.

While a launch was held at Penrith Auction Mart on Thursday (pictured), organisers say…

Dr John was nominated by Her Majesty the Queen to become the sixth person to take up the post and succeed the late Bishop John Wraw.

He used the occasion to set out his mission of letting people know that God is with everyone in challenging times.

Dr John is currently Archdeacon of Barking in East London. He has been described by Rt Rev Stephen Cottrell, the Bishop of Chelmsford as “a wise and gifted theologian and pastor”.

Dr John said he’s “humbled and honoured” to accept his new position and his new mission to Essex will be one of “serving the churches and communities”.

He added: “I am passionate about the Christian faith that can transform individuals, communities and institutions, and about communicating that faith through pastoral care, teaching and community engagement.

“God is about human flourishing. He is there for every Essex Man and every Essex Woman.

“I am aware of the social, economic and cultural challenges faced by the communities in the area. I am committed to working with and serving the churches and communities in this part of Essex.”

Bishop Stephen Cottrell said Dr John will do well in his new role as he “has won the trust and affection of the parishes, supported the mission of the Church, and helped ensure each community was served effectively” as the Archdeacon of Barking.

According to the Diocese of Chelmsford, a consecration ceremony will take…