The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, resigned on Tuesday following an independent review exposing the Church of England’s failure to act on abuse allegations involving over 100 boys and young men by British lawyer John Smyth during the 1970s and 1980s. The report, released last week, criticized senior church leaders for covering up Smyth’s abuse, allowing him to continue his actions both in the UK and abroad.
In his resignation statement, Welby expressed shame over the church’s inadequate response, acknowledging that he learned about the allegations in 2013 but failed to take decisive action. “The last few days have renewed my long-felt and profound sense of shame at the historic safeguarding failures of the Church of England,” he stated. The Bishop of Newcastle, Helen-Ann Hartley, voiced concerns, saying, “People are asking…‘Can we really trust the Church of England to keep us safe?’ And I think the answer at the moment is ‘no’.”
Survivors and critics, including abuse survivor Andrew Morse, echoed calls for accountability, condemning the church’s lack of action and the role it played in enabling further abuse. Welby’s resignation marks a significant moment for the Church of England as it grapples with its safeguarding legacy and seeks to rebuild trust among its members.
Efforts to obtain comments from other church leaders, including the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and the Christian Association of Nigeria, were unsuccessful.
