The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is currently facing mounting pressure to resign amid serious allegations concerning the Church of England's handling of child sex abuse scandals. The uproar stems from findings released last week by an independent investigation which revealed grave failings within the Church, including Welby's alleged neglect to report abuse claims when he first learned about them over a decade ago.
The investigation centered around the late John Smyth, who was accused of committing ‘prolific, brutal and horrific’ abuse against more than 100 boys at Christian summer camps during the 1970s and 1980s. Despite knowing about the misconduct since August 2013, Welby reportedly failed to act decisively, leading to accusations of complicity and systemic cover-up within the church ranks.
Last week, following the release of the report, which indicated significant lapses by church officials including Welby, the Bishop of Newcastle, Helen-Ann Hartley, called for his resignation. Hartley emphasized the Church's need to have its actions align with its mission to protect and take care of the vulnerable, stating, “It’s very hard for the Church, as the national established church, to continue to have a moral voice when we cannot get our own house in order with regard to something as critically important as abuse.”
This call for resignation came shortly after the release of the comprehensive review led by Keith Makin, which was commissioned by the National Safeguarding Team of the Church of England back in 2019. The report detailed how the Church's responses were not just inadequate, but effectively amounting to complicity, stating, “Despite considerable efforts by individuals to bring to the attention of relevant authorities the scope and horror of Smyth’s conduct, the steps taken were ineffective and neither fully exposed nor prevented his abuse.”
Welby publicly acknowledged his failures, admitting, "I am deeply sorry this abuse happened" and expressed regret for the slow response to the allegations. He emphasized, “I had no idea or suspicion of this abuse before 2013” but then admitted he did not pursue the matter diligently after it was disclosed. The Archbishop had earlier apologized to the victims of Smyth's abuse, stating the Church had let them down and was continuing to work toward creating safer environments within its ministries.
John Smyth, whose abuse spanned three decades, had been the subject of early allegations which were reportedly buried. He was connected to the Iwerne Trust, which managed summer camps providing religious education for boys—many from affluent backgrounds— where the abuses took place. Victims later reported extreme physical punishments, often described as horrifying and traumatic, carried out under the guise of religious beliefs.
The revelations have prompted wider criticism not just of Welby but of the Church of England's leadership as a whole. A petition was launched by members of the Church's General Synod, gathering significant support with over 7,000 signatures just days after its inception. The petition expresses the call for Welby to resign, arguing, “We must see change, for the sake of survivors, for the protection of the vulnerable, and for the good of the Church.”
Other church officials have echoed Hartley’s sentiments. Giles Fraser, vicar of St Anne's Church, voiced his belief on national radio, highlighting the trauma often overshadowed by institutional failings, declaring, “Welby can’t survive this. His resignation should send necessary shockwaves through the Church of England. No Archbishop would ever again treat these matters so lightly.”
Critics argue the growing scrutiny of Welby's leadership raises fundamental concerns about accountability within the Church of England, particularly concerning sensitive issues surrounding safeguarding and systemic abuse. They fear these failings could erode public trust, stating bluntly, “Can we really trust the Church of England to keep us safe?”
Welby has served as Archbishop since 2013 and is due to retire by 2026. His future now hangs uncertainly, with many calling for genuine shifts within the Church to prevent such allegations from recurring. Social pressure amplifies as victims and advocates demand accountability—a change from old, privileged power dynamics, promoting voices of the marginalized who have suffered tremendously.
This situation has already provoked reactions beyond the church, with governmental and social entities weighing the seriousness of the allegations and the widow of negligence presented by the church. From the outside, pressure mounts as advocacy groups for survivors of abuse leverage the moment to highlight the pervasive nature of abuse and institutional failure across various domains.
So what does this mean for the Archbishop and the Church of England moving forward? With calls for tougher accountability measures and safer church practices, the investigation findings could herald significant reforms. The subsequent reactions will undoubtedly define the Church's path as they navigate through these dark times.
