The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, resigned on Tuesday following the release of an independent review that revealed the Church of England’s failure to address decades of abuse by British lawyer John Smyth.
The review exposed how senior church leaders, including Welby, had covered up the abuse of over 100 boys and young men in the 1970s and 1980s.
Smyth, who led Christian summer camps in the UK and abroad, was found to have sexually abused his victims over many years.
Despite repeated attempts by individuals to bring Smyth’s actions to light, the Church failed to take meaningful action, allowing the abuse to continue unchecked.
Smyth, who passed away in South Africa in 2018 without facing legal consequences, was able to continue his abuse both in the UK and internationally due to the Church’s inaction.
In a statement announcing his resignation, Welby expressed deep regret over the Church’s failures, calling the situation a source of “long felt and profound shame.”
He admitted that he first learned of the abuse allegations in 2013, shortly after becoming Archbishop, but acknowledged that his response had been inadequate.
Welby stated, “For nearly 12 years, I have struggled to introduce improvements. It is for others to judge what has been done.”
The Archbishop’s resignation followed increasing calls for accountability from victims and church leaders.
The Bishop of Newcastle, Helen-Ann Hartley, noted that many were questioning the Church of England’s ability to protect its members, stating, “Can we really trust the Church of England to keep us safe? And I think the answer at the moment is ‘no.’”
One of Smyth’s victims, Andrew Morse, who had been abused as a teenager, called for Welby’s resignation.
He criticized the Archbishop for his failure to act decisively in 2013, suggesting that prompt action could have prevented further abuse.
“Justin Welby’s admission that he didn’t do enough, that he wasn’t rigorous… confirms to me that he, along with many other Anglican leaders, were part of a cover-up,” Morse told the BBC.
Welby’s resignation casts a shadow over his tenure, which included officiating at significant events such as the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and delivering the sermon at Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral.
The scandal has put the Church of England under intense scrutiny, forcing it to confront its troubled history with abuse and the widespread erosion of trust among its followers.
In his statement, Welby expressed sorrow for the pain caused to victims, acknowledging that the Church had failed to protect those under its care.
“I am so sorry that in places where these young men and boys should have felt safe, they were subjected to physical, sexual, psychological, and spiritual abuse,” he said.
