The Bishop of Edmonton's expenses including more than £3,000 spent entertaining were revealed this week for the first time.

Figures released by the Church of England show the Rt Rev Peter Wheatley, 53, spent nearly £40,000 last year, about average among Britain's 114 bishops.

The Bishop's biggest expenses include £8,754 on office costs and £23,900 on staffing.

The Bishop, who was ordained in March 1999 following the death of his predecessor the Rt Rev Brian Masters, owns his own car but spent £1,844 on travel costs and fuel.

He also spent £585 on an ordination retreat for clergy being promoted.

Compared to some of his colleagues, the bishop's costs are modest in the extreme.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, topped the tables followed closely by the Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope.

The Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Richard Chartres, is another big spender with a personal staff of five costing £114,745 in wages and office bills.

Overall, expenses came to £9.3million between one and two per cent of the Church of England's annual turnover.

The Church took the decision to release the report, which took two years to compile, to show its 114 bishops do not live in the lap of luxury.

The Rt Rev Chartes welcomed the report. "It's right to live in the real world and count the real costs of services being provided," he said.

"There is a need for prudent and careful financial management and even more so in the present ecumenical climate."

December 17, 2001 18:00