Bishop of Gloucester Urges Deep Reflection for Archbishop Candidates

The Right Reverend Rachel Treweek, Bishop of Gloucester, stated that any bishop considering the role of Archbishop of Canterbury requires “their head reading.” This comes as Justin Welby is set to resign following a critical report concerning John Smyth, a prolific child abuser linked to the Church of England. Speaking to BBC Radio Gloucestershire, Bishop Treweek expressed her disinterest in the “very, very difficult job,” suggesting that any bishop contemplating it should “look long and hard into the mirror and take some reality checks.” She affirmed that Mr. Welby’s decision was “absolutely the right thing to do,” though she noted it “probably could have happened quicker.” The report indicated that Mr. Welby “could and should” have reported Smyth’s abuse of boys and young men to police in 2013. The exact date of the archbishop’s departure from his position was not immediately specified, but the process for identifying a successor is anticipated to span at least six months. The Archbishop of Canterbury serves as the spiritual leader of the Church of England and guides 85 million Anglicans across 165 nations globally. “Anyone who wants to be the Archbishop of Canterbury absolutely needs their head reading,” Bishop Treweek remarked. “You know, this is a very, very difficult job – stepping into the structures that do need to change. Any bishop who wants to be the archbishop, well, I think they might need to look long and hard into the mirror and take some reality checks.” Smyth faced accusations of assaulting dozens of boys, including those encountered at Christian camps, within the UK during the 1970s and 1980s. An independent report, released last week, concluded that the Church’s inaction represented a “missed opportunity” to bring Smyth to justice before his death in 2018. The Bishop described the document as an “absolutely sickening report,” stressing that attention must be directed towards the victims and survivors who endured years awaiting the full disclosure of the abuse. She stated, “I want to instil trust and faith and say to victims and survivors that if you have been silenced, if you are carrying that weight today, then please do contact your diocesan safeguarding team.” She noted that while safeguarding procedures and training within the Church have evolved in recent years, independent oversight remains essential. “One of the things that this report and subsequent events has thrown up again is the very clunky governance we have within the Church of England,” she added. “We do not have quick decision making, there are too many different levels, groups, involved. We need to be able to move much more swiftly.” Bishop Treweek was consecrated as the 41st Bishop of Gloucester in 2015. She achieved a historic milestone by becoming both the first female diocesan bishop and the first female bishop to sit in the House of Lords.