THE Bishop of Worcester has hit back at critics claiming the Church of England has over-stepped the mark with its recent political statements.

Rt Revd John Inge has said “politics is too important to be left only to politicians” and that suggesting the church can’t be political is a “very strange notion”.

His comments come after a letter from the House of Bishops, which criticised politicians and called for “a new approach to political life”, was published last week.

Some national newspapers have labelled the letter as a “shopping list of left-wing demands” and an “indirect criticism of the government’s welfare policies”.

Bishop John said: “I find it hard to believe that anyone who suggests that the House of Bishops' letter was party political has actually read it.

“To suggest the church shouldn't meddle in politics is a very strange notion.

“We shouldn't be party-political, but politics is too important to be left only to politicians.

“I'm always reminded of a quote from Archbishop Desmond Tutu who said 'when people say religion and politics don't mix, I wonder which bible it is they're reading’.”

The Church of England has also been lambasted in the national media for hypocrisy over the living wage by backing the concept but then failing to pay some of its own staff the £7.85 per hour rate.

In Worcester however the Worcester Diocesan Board of Finance, which employs about 40 people, does have a policy of paying the living wage.

As separate legal entities, parishes within the diocese make their own decisions on pay and may not comply with the higher rate - but centrally the diocese is recommending the adoption of the living wage.

Bishop John added: “As far as the living wage is concerned we have made a commitment to move towards it as fast as possible.

“It's great that in Worcester we are already paying the living wage as far as the Diocesan Board of Finance employees are concerned and hope that others will be able to do this as soon as possible."

Worcester Cathedral similarly pays the living wage to all of its 30 full-time and 22 part-time staff.

Reverend Canon Dr Alvyn Pettersen, canon theologian at Worcester Cathedral, said: “We implemented the living wage in order to treat people decently and with dignity – to treat people as people rather than commodities.”