Bishop of London's £130,000 expenses

The Bishop of London is one of the biggest spenders in the Church of England, according to a report itemising bishops' expenses for the first time.

The Rt Rev Richard Chartres charged Church Commissioners £114,745 for office and staff costs and £10,171 for the heating, lighting and cleaning of his City of London residence, Dean's Court.

His bill for vacuum cleaners, fire extinguishers and replacing tap washers and broken crockery came to £5,313. He has a personal staff of five; a public affairs adviser, press officer, two secretaries and a receptionist.

Top of the table is the Archbishop-of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, with a total office bill of £990,920. He is followed closely by the Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, with £142,912.

The report, which took two years to compile, aims to show that the 114 bishops do not live in the lap of luxury. Last year their expenses totalled £9.3 million and their pay and pensions £3.5 million.

Although the total is modest, the figures show big disparities between the dioceses, with London and the South-East spending more than most in the North. In contrast, the Bishop of Lincoln charged £2,192 for his heating, lighting and cleaning and £456 for heating his greenhouse and servicing household appliances.

Explaining the gulf in expenses, the Bishop of London's spokesman said that as the third most senior bishop in England he performs a number of roles, including that of Dean of the Chapels Royal and Privy Counsellor. Bishop Chartres said: "I welcome the publication of this report. It is right to live in the real world and count the real cost of the service being provided. As ever there is a need for prudence."

The report, Bishops' Office and Working Costs, will be published annually.