Barrister Mr Smyth QC, who died aged 77 last year, was accused of attacking boys whom he had met at a Christian camp in Dorset in the 1970s and 1980s.

The independent inquiry was launched into the Church's handling of allegations against the Mr Smyth.

Permission to Officiate (PTO) is required for any Church of England priest to preach or minister.

Lord Carey previously had his PTO revoked after a damning independent report found he had "colluded [with the convicted abuser Peter Ball] rather than seeking to help those harmed".

He resigned from his post as an assistant bishop in the Diocese of Oxford in 2017.

He was later granted a PTO by the diocese in 2018, allowing him to preach at the church where he worships, conditional on no further concerns coming to light.

A spokesman for the diocese said: "A planned independent review into the Church of England's handling of allegations against the late John Smyth QC is currently under way.

"In the course of that review, new information has come to light regarding Lord Carey, which has been passed to the National Safeguarding Team for immediate attention as per the agreed terms of reference set for the review."

Lord Carey's PTO has been withdrawn while the matter is being investigated and he is unauthorised to "undertake any form of ministry in the Diocese until further notice."

The spokesman added: "However, for the avoidance of doubt, we wish to make clear that the new information received relates only to the review currently underway, and that there has not been an allegation of abuse made against Lord Carey."

CAREY RESPONDS

Lord Carey told Channel 4 News: "I am bewildered and dismayed to receive the news a short time ago that due to 'concerns' being raised during the review of John Smyth QC I have had my PTO revoked. I have been given no information on the nature of these 'concerns' and have no memory of meeting Mr Smyth.

"In 2018 the National Safeguarding Team and the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury invited me to meet with them to arrange safeguarding training and facilitate a meeting with survivors of Peter Ball's abuse.

"They have failed to deliver action on either of these matters which were the subject of mutually agreed action. As a result, I have little confidence in their ability to pursue a proper investigation. I understand from the testimony of victims and survivors of clerical abuse that this lack of confidence is shared widely. "

A spokesman for Lord Carey's diocese where he held Permission to Officiate (Oxford) said: "A planned independent review into the Church of England's handling of allegations against the late John Smyth QC is currently under way.

"In the course of that review, new information has come to light regarding Lord Carey, which has been passed to the National Safeguarding Team for immediate attention as per the agreed terms of reference set for the review."

The spokesman added: "However, for the avoidance of doubt, we wish to make clear that the new information received relates only to the review currently underway, and that there has not been an allegation of abuse made against Lord Carey."