The Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI), one of the largest faith institutions on the island, is now at the center of a public reckoning over serious safeguarding failings. The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland has formally launched an inquiry into the church, a move that comes on the heels of the resignation of the church’s head and a damning internal report. The developments have sent shockwaves through the denomination’s 200,000-strong membership, raising urgent questions about governance, culture, and the future of safeguarding within religious organizations.
The story broke wide open in November 2025, when the head of the PCI stepped down after what were described as "serious and significant failings" in the church’s safeguarding practices. According to BBC News NI, this resignation was not an isolated event but part of a broader crisis that had been growing within the church’s central safeguarding functions. The Charity Commission, which oversees all registered charities in Northern Ireland, is legally mandated to “identify and investigate apparent misconduct or mismanagement.” In this case, the Commission made it clear that working with the church to address safeguarding and governance issues would be a top priority, with “appropriate remedial steps put in place.”
The PCI’s troubles became public knowledge after an internal report, commissioned in the wake of the safeguarding revelations, concluded that the church was in a “shameful” position. The report did not mince words, stating: “In addition to safeguarding issues, there is an awareness that there are other significant matters that demand consideration by PCI which may not fall under criminal charges but involve governance, culture and integrity issues. This is a shameful position for part of the Church of Jesus Christ to be in.” The report, published on the church’s website, set the stage for a special meeting of the General Assembly, the PCI’s key decision-making body, scheduled for Thursday, December 18, 2025, in Belfast.
The Charity Commission’s chief executive, Frances McCandless, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “Safeguarding is fundamental to maintaining public trust in charities. Every charity must make the safety and wellbeing of those they serve their highest priority.” Her remarks underscored not just the legal obligations of the PCI as a registered charity, but also the moral imperative to protect the vulnerable within its care.
Complicating matters further, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) announced last month that it had opened a criminal investigation into safeguarding concerns within the PCI. Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck confirmed that the investigation “remains active” and “will not be affected by the Charity Commission’s inquiry processes.” Beck explained, “We are working closely with the Charity Commission and with other statutory and community safeguarding partners. This coordinated approach ensures that any concerns raised are fully examined and that appropriate steps are taken to address any criminality and to protect those who have been harmed and need help and support to access a wide range of services.”
As the special meeting approaches, the church has taken steps to ensure transparency and accountability. The meeting will be public and live-streamed online, providing an opportunity for both members and the wider community to witness the church’s response. However, a letter sent to ministers ahead of the meeting cautioned, “It is important that nothing is said that would either potentially defame an individual, nor impinge upon the police investigation which is ongoing.” The letter, signed by two senior church members, reflects the delicate balance between open debate and the need to respect ongoing legal processes.
The internal report, spanning 23 pages, outlines a series of proposals aimed at overhauling the church’s safeguarding and governance structures. These include the creation of a new safeguarding department, an independent external review of safeguarding practices, a review of the use of non-disclosure agreements, and the establishment of a task group to examine issues of governance, culture, and integrity. Particularly noteworthy is the suggestion to split the traditionally combined roles of general secretary and clerk of the General Assembly—positions that had been held by the same person for over a decade.
The Rev Trevor Gribben, who held both posts for 11 years before becoming moderator in June 2025, stepped down at the end of November in the wake of the safeguarding revelations. In a statement, Gribben acknowledged, “Although not directly responsible for the professional delivery of safeguarding within the church, nonetheless serious and significant failings in our central safeguarding functions occurred partly during my tenure as general secretary.” His resignation was widely seen as a necessary step in taking responsibility for the failings and enabling a fresh start for the PCI.
Leadership of the church has since reverted to the previous year’s moderator, the Rev Dr Richard Murray, who resumed the position at the start of December. The upcoming General Assembly meeting will begin with a time of worship, followed by lunch and then debates in the afternoon. Speeches will be strictly time-limited, with proposers and seconders of resolutions allowed seven minutes and other speakers four minutes each. The church hall, which can accommodate about 1,000 people, is expected to be filled with ministers, elders, and concerned members eager to see how the church will address its crisis.
The report prepared for the assembly goes beyond administrative fixes, calling on the church to “adopt a posture of a broken and contrite heart.” It urges a “recognition of the need for repentance, humility and lament”—a clear signal that the PCI’s leadership sees this as a moment for deep moral reckoning, not just bureaucratic adjustment. The sense of urgency is palpable, with another special meeting of the General Assembly already penciled in for February 17, 2026, should further action be required.
This crisis has raised broader questions about the responsibilities of religious institutions as registered charities, and the mechanisms in place to hold them accountable. The PCI’s willingness to publish its internal report and debate proposals in public is, in some eyes, a step toward greater transparency. Yet, with both a criminal investigation and a charity inquiry underway, the church faces a long road to restoring trust.
For many in Northern Ireland and beyond, the PCI’s current predicament is a stark reminder of the importance of robust safeguarding in all organizations that serve the public. As the special meeting unfolds, all eyes will be on the church’s leaders—and on whether their actions match the weight of their words.
