THE Church of England is launching an independent review into its handling of a case involving a woman abused by a former bishop.

A statement issued by the Diocese of Chichester said that in accordance with House of Bishops guidance on such matters, a core group will meet to review the process surrounding the handling of the George Bell case which made headlines last year.

In October of last year the diocese of Chichester announced that it had paid a settlement to an unnamed survivor of sexual abuse following accusations levelled against the wartime head of the Church in Sussex, Bishop of Chichester George Bell (1883 - 1958).

The victim exclusively spoke to The Argus - whom we named Carol to protect her anonymity - who explained that the four years of abuse in the Bishop’s Palace in Chichester had started when she was just five years old. He said it was their little secret because God loved her.

In March a group defending Bell’s reputation published a detailed critique of the Church’s handling of the case.

The new review will not re-examine the decision to settle the case. A diocese spokeswoman told The Argus: “There is absolutely no suggestion that this review is about what decision was made.”

The review will be commissioned by the Church of England’s National Safeguarding Team, on the recommendation of the Bishop of Chichester, to see what lessons can be learnt from how the case was handled. The same process is undergone in all such cases involving bishops.

It will look at the processes followed when allegations were first brought in 1995 to the diocese of Chichester and then brought again, to Lambeth Palace, in 2013.

It will also consider the processes - which according to the statement included the commissioning of expert independent reports and archival investigations - which were used to inform the decision to settle the case.

The Church’s opacity on these issues has been specifically criticised by the George Bell Group.

The church's statement said: “The settlement was based on the balance of probabilities as criminal proceedings cannot be brought in a case where the alleged perpetrator is dead.”

Details of the review, including terms of reference and the name of the independent reviewer will be announced at a later date.

The Bishop of Chichester, Dr Martin Warner, said: "I hope that the review will provide a constructive way forward for all concerned.

“Along with my colleagues in the wider Church, I am committed to ensuring that the past is handled with honesty."