Following the publication of an independent review by Keith Makin into the Church of England's handling of allegations of serious abuse by the late John Smyth, the Archbishop of Canterbury has resigned.
Archbishop Justin Welby today released a letter in which he said:
“It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatizing period between 2013 and 2024.”
“I hope this decision makes clear how seriously the Church of England understands the need for change and our profound commitment to creating a safer church. As I step down, I do so in sorrow with all victims and survivors of abuse.”
“The last few days have renewed my long-felt and profound sense of shame at the historic safeguarding failures of the Church of England. For nearly twelve years, I have struggled to introduce improvements. It is for others to judge what has been done.”
The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, said in his statement:
“As a church, we continue to work toward and must achieve a more victim-centred and trauma-informed approach to safeguarding within the Church of England, and this must address the broader questions of culture and leadership. In this regard, much progress has already been made over the last 10 years. Indeed, it has been Archbishop Justin himself who has championed those developments and reforms. Both Justin and I have made our hopes known about the independence of safeguarding, discussed both by Makin and also in Alexis Jay’s report, and we look forward to the group already at work on these, bringing recommendations that can be both effective and trusted.”
Adding:
“Although Justin Welby has not perpetrated abuse, as Archbishop of Canterbury he has decided to take his share of responsibility for the failures identified by the Makin review. I believe this is the right and honourable thing to do.”
Bishop Ruth Worsley, Acting Bishop of Coventry, has said in response to today’s resignation:
“It is most important that we have a church where all people feel safe and are safe.
Those who have suffered abuse within the church need not only our expression of sorrow, shame, and repentance but also our continued commitment to action to create safe communities with robust safeguarding processes that actively prevent abuse taking place. Much good work has been done over the last 10 years, and significant progress has been made, especially at parish levels, through the hard work and commitment of our local safeguarding officers, but there is still more to do. This requires a complete culture change and a willingness from each of us to play our part.
We join together in prayer for those who have suffered and for their families, as well as for those who are vulnerable in our communities, that they may know the love, kindness, and protection of Jesus in our churches as we seek to make our diocese and the wider Church a safe place.
We acknowledge and appreciate Archbishop Justin's efforts in recent years to bring change and progress in the Church around safeguarding, and we respect his decision and accountability in stepping down and ‘accepting his share of the responsibility.’ Our prayers remain for him and his family. I invite us all now to share in our collective responsibility to bring about the change we need to see.”
The Coventry diocesan safeguarding team takes all allegations of abuse, in any form, extremely seriously, and we are here to listen. You can contact the team at 02476 521345 or safeguarding@coventry.anglican.org.
Bishop Ruth also issued an Ad Clerum to our Clergy and Licensed Lay Ministers yesterday which included comment on the Makin Review.
Full statement from the Archbishop
Related
Independent review into Church’s handling of Smyth case published
If you or anyone you are in contact with are affected by the publication of this report and want to talk to someone independently please call the Safe Spaces helpline on 0300 303 1056 or visit safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk.
There is also the Samaritans on 116 123