Complaints against Bishop of Winchester in Channel Islands split row

The Diocese of Canterbury currently has oversight of the islands' Anglican churches

Two complaints have been lodged against the Bishop of Winchester over how he dealt with the Anglican Church in Jersey, the BBC understands.

The Channel Islands split from the Diocese of Winchester in January after relations broke down between Bishop Tim Dakin and Jersey's Dean, the Very Reverend Robert Key.

It stemmed from a dispute how abuse complaints were handled.

The Diocese of Winchester said it was not aware of any official complaints.

BBC Radio Jersey understands two formal complaints are being investigated by the registrar of the Archbishop of York after they were referred to the York Diocese by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.

The first complaint is understood to allege that Bishop Dakin instructed the Dean of Jersey to follow church law over state law and the second concerns claims of a lack of accountability.

After the split, Bishop Dakin handed temporary oversight of the islands to the Bishop of Dover Trevor Wilmott, who is based in the Diocese of Canterbury.

The Archbishop of Canterbury previously told the BBC he had full confidence in Bishop Dakin.

He also said a special commission was to look at the relationship between the Channel Islands and Winchester after the split.