Archbishop of Canterbury Resigns Amid Pressure Over Abuse Scandal

Justin Welby has stepped down from his role as Archbishop of Canterbury, following growing demands for his resignation concerning his failure to report the serial child abuser John Smyth. This account details the sequence of events culminating in Mr Welby’s departure after 11 years in the position. An independent review, released last week, delivered a critical assessment, concluding that Mr Welby—who holds the highest ecclesiastical office within the Church of England—along with other church officials, ought to have formally reported Smyth in 2013 to law enforcement in the UK and to authorities in South Africa. Smyth faced accusations of assaulting numerous boys, including individuals encountered at Christian camps, across the UK during the 1970s and 1980s. The Makin review further indicated that the barrister and prominent member of a Christian charity subsequently relocated to Zimbabwe and then South Africa, where he abused as many as 100 boys between the ages of 13 and 17. The Church of England, by 2013, was aware “at the highest level” of Smyth’s abuse, a fact that included Mr Welby, who assumed the Church’s leading role in that same year. The independent report stated that had he and other Church officers reported this to police in the UK and authorities in South Africa at that juncture, “John Smyth could have [been] brought to justice at a much earlier point”. Mr Welby had previously resisted demands to resign concerning his handling of the case since 2013. However, facing increasing pressure, he declared in a statement on Tuesday that he must accept “personal and institutional responsibility”. The prime minister’s spokeswoman conveyed that Keir Starmer “respects the decision” to step down and that his thoughts “first and foremost, remain with all the victims”. Smyth’s abusive actions were initially brought to the attention of the Iwerne Trust charity, where he served as chairman, during the early 1980s. A document outlining his “horrific” assaults on teenage boys was given to certain Church leaders in 1982. Nevertheless, the Makin review indicated that those who received the report “participated in an active cover-up” to prevent its conclusions, including the commission of crimes, from becoming public. Smyth’s abuse within the UK resurfaced in 2012, when a church official in Cambridgeshire unexpectedly received a letter “out of the blue” from another survivor. The review indicated that five police forces were informed of the abuse between 2013 and 2016. Despite this, Church leaders did not file a formal report. A comprehensive police investigation was not initiated until 2017, following a Channel 4 documentary that disclosed specifics of Smyth’s abuse to the public. Smyth is thought to have persisted with his abuse in South Africa until his passing in 2018. Mr Welby was employed at summer camps in Dorset where Smyth encountered some of his victims; however, the archbishop stated he was not cognizant of the allegations’ nature until 2013. A clergyman cautioned Mr Welby regarding Smyth in the 1980s, yet the archbishop informed the review that this warning was “vague” and “there was no indication given of the abuses which later came to light”. Following the broadcast of the Channel 4 documentary in 2017, Mr Welby issued an “unreserved” apology to Smyth’s victims but did not step down. Subsequent to the Makin review published this month, the archbishop stated he had contemplated resigning due to its findings and reiterated his apology. Mr Welby conceded that the review explicitly showed he had “personally failed to ensure it was energetically investigated”. Nevertheless, on Tuesday, after a petition initiated by members of the Church’s parliament—the General Synod—and increasing calls for his departure, Mr Welby resigned. Among the critics was Bishop of Newcastle Helen-Ann Hartley, who commented that Mr Welby’s resignation would “be a very clear indication that a line has been drawn, and that we must move towards independence of safeguarding”. Andrew Morse, a survivor of Smyth’s abuse, similarly urged Mr Welby’s departure, stating that he believed the archbishop’s acknowledgment of insufficient action regarding the reports implied that both he and the Church of England had, in effect, participated in a “cover-up”. The petition advocating for his resignation, which charged the archbishop with “allowing abuse to continue” and declared his position “no longer tenable”, garnered over 14,000 signatures. The prime minister had also publicly stated that Smyth’s victims had been “failed very, very badly,” but declined to comment when questioned about whether the archbishop should step down. The Archbishop is required to seek the King’s permission to retire, as the King serves as the head of the Church of England. It is customary to also notify the prime minister. The duration of the archbishop’s remaining tenure is unknown, but the search for a successor is anticipated to last a minimum of six months. A consultation, projected to extend over several months, will solicit opinions from individuals both within and outside the Church of England regarding their expectations for the next archbishop. This input will contribute to establishing a preliminary list of appropriate candidates. Although individuals cannot apply for the position, those selected for interviews are not required to be members of the Church of England nor must they be bishops, though this is often the case. Subsequently, the candidates will undergo interviews conducted by a committee, whose chair will be appointed by the prime minister. The committee’s members will comprise representatives from the worldwide Anglican Communion, the General Synod, and at least one bishop. A decision requires agreement from at least two-thirds of the committee members. The Archbishop of Canterbury also serves as the spiritual head of the global Anglican community.