The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the largest Protestant denomination on the island, is facing a reckoning after an internal investigation uncovered what leaders are calling "serious and significant failings" in its safeguarding practices over more than a decade. On November 12, 2025, the Church’s Moderator, Rev Dr Trevor Gribben, announced his resignation, along with his retirement from other senior roles, in response to the findings—a move that has sent ripples through the Church’s 180,000-strong membership and beyond.
Dr Gribben, who was only formally installed as Moderator in June, addressed the Church and public in a somber statement. "Following an internal investigation and report, it has become clear that there have been serious and significant failings in the central safeguarding functions of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland from the period 2009 to 2022," he said, as reported by The Irish News. "As a result of this, people have been placed at risk. We are aware of a number of people who have been harmed, and we believe there may well be others as yet unknown to us. We apologise unreservedly for this."
While the Church has not revealed the specifics of the allegations, it confirmed that at least three individuals are known to have been harmed due to the failings. Church officials believe the true number may be higher, given what they described as a "basic failure" to follow their own safeguarding guidelines. The failings, which spanned from 2009 to 2022, included not making referrals to statutory agencies when required, inadequate responses to concerns about individuals in congregations, and poor monitoring of offenders returning to worship after referrals from statutory bodies. Crucially, significant gaps in record-keeping compounded the problems, making it difficult to identify all cases where practice fell short.
During a press conference in Belfast, Dr Gribben expressed deep regret, stating, "The Church’s first and greatest concern about this is for those people who have suffered harm, and those who have been put at risk. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland profoundly regrets this, is deeply grieved, and will offer all possible support to those affected." He was clear about his own accountability: "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. In light of this, I have decided it would be best at this time for me to step aside from my current role as Moderator of the General Assembly, the Church’s chief public representative."
Dr Gribben will also retire from his positions as Clerk of the Assembly and General Secretary at the end of November, allowing what he described as "others to take forward all of the steps that my colleague Dr Bruce will shortly outline." He admitted, "I have made these decisions and taken these steps with the deepest personal regret that our central failings have caused such harm to those who deserve our protection the most." According to Belfast Telegraph, after reading his statement, Dr Gribben took no questions and left the room, leaving other senior officials to address the media.
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, with more than 500 congregations across 19 regional presbyteries, is now facing questions not only from its members but from the broader community it serves. The failings identified were not limited to members alone; some of those affected were connected through associated organizations or were family members, as clarified by acting clerk Rev Dr David Allen. He also emphasized that, while the allegations are historic, they do not fall under what "may be described as clerical abuse."
Rev David Bruce, Convenor of the General Council, acknowledged the gravity of the situation. "Our current safeguarding team has identified a number of situations between 2009 and 2021, with one as late as 2022, where we have failed to deliver an adequate safeguarding service," he said. "In most instances, this involved a basic failure to follow our own ‘taking care’ guidance. These failings were magnified by major gaps in necessary record-keeping, so it is inevitable that we have not identified all situations where practice was unacceptable."
Rev Bruce detailed the types of failures that occurred, including the Church’s failure to make referrals to statutory authorities when required and inadequate responses to people who, having suffered harm, sought help. "There were situations where some offenders returning to worship in church, following referrals to us by statutory bodies, were inadequately monitored," he added. "The person with lead responsibility for this work during these years is no longer in post."
For many, these revelations are deeply unsettling. Safeguarding teams within the Church are charged with protecting the vulnerable—children, the elderly, and at-risk adults. The internal investigation’s findings suggest that for years, the systems meant to keep people safe were not functioning as intended. The Church has since taken steps to address the failings, including working with statutory bodies and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) on both the overall failings and specific poorly handled situations. According to Rev Bruce, all cases where "offenders requiring supervision" were worshipping have been reviewed, and "appropriate arrangements have been put in place."
In his remarks, Rev Bruce was candid about the Church’s responsibility: "Our primary concern is the people who have been harmed, placed at risk, or who simply didn’t hear from us when they needed help or guidance. We have let you down, and for this I am truly sorry. It should not have happened." He reassured those affected, "I want you to know that we will do everything we can to both put in place better arrangements to prevent this occurring again, and to put the appropriate help and support in place for you now." He encouraged anyone impacted, whether currently part of the Church or associated in the past, to come forward: "Anyone in our congregations, or those more broadly associated with us, either now or in the past, who may have been impacted can contact us directly. I would reassure anyone contacting the team that they will be listened to, heard and responded to, as they should have been previously."
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s leadership transition comes at a time of soul-searching for the denomination. With its central safeguarding functions under scrutiny, the Church is vowing to overhaul its systems and restore trust among its members and the wider community. The hope, as echoed by both Gribben and Bruce, is that by facing these failings head-on, the Church can begin to heal the wounds caused and ensure that such lapses are never repeated.
As the Church prepares for new leadership and a renewed focus on safeguarding, the true test will be whether its actions match its promises—and whether those who suffered harm will finally receive the support, recognition, and protection they deserve.
