THE cost of heating a bishop's greenhouse, how much his chauffeur is paid and what he spends on tea for visitors are among the details disclosed by the Church of England in a report itemising bishops' expenses for the first time.

The aim of the report, which took two years to compile, is to show that the 114 bishops do not live in the lap of luxury.

Last year their expenses were pounds 9.3 million, which is 1.2 per cent of the Church's annual turnover of pounds 800 million. Their pay and pensions cost another pounds 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 ...