A prominent charismatic evangelical pastor in the Church of England movement has been suspended after an adulterous affair.

The Rev Mark Bailey, 56, of Cheltenham's Trinity church, has been been ordered to "step back" from ministry by Bishop of Gloucester Rachel Treweek.

Bishop Treweek said Bailey's adultery was "dishonouring to God and the Church".

In a statement Bishop Treweek said: "Clergy in the Church of England are expected to aspire to the highest possible standards of conduct within their ministry and such behaviour is dishonouring to God and the Church.

"The matter has therefore been considered under the Clergy Discipline Measure and the process has now been completed.

"Mark has resigned from his post as Team Rector of his own volition and I have imposed a penalty of a two year prohibition from exercising any of the functions of an ordained member of clergy in the Church of England. This penalty has Mark's consent.

"In imposing this penalty I have sought to acknowledge God's grace whilst also taking into account the importance of living with consequences; and the need for deep inner reflection with a commitment to address the underlying issues of personal behaviour. All of this has been affirmed by Mark."

Bailey, whose father was a minister, also stepped down from his role as national director of the evangelical New Wine movement earlier this year.

However, he and his wife are still together and his affair has now ended.

Speaking in a New Wine leadership video, he said his focus in life growing up was rugby, until he was seriously injured and began reading Scripture.

He said: "I came across this character called Jesus who basically bore no resemblance to anything I'd come across in church before. I realised that he loved me and I was in love with him."