A priest from Sussex appeared before Worthing magistrates on Tuesday, charged with possessing 22,500 indecent images of children.
David Renshaw, 61, a Church of England priest from Worthing, pleaded not guilty on September 7th
He was released on court bail after police determined there was no immediate risk to any identifiable children.
None of the images are believed to be of local children.
He'll appear at Lewes Crown Court on October 5th for an initial hearing.
The charges, authorised by the CPS, follow an intelligence-led investigation by the Sussex Police Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT).
Officers have had full co-operation from the Diocese of Chichester throughout the investigation.