Archbishop of Canterbury resigns – live: Welby resigns after Church of England sex abuse cover-up report

The Archbishop of Canterbury has resigned about a damning report to a lawyer thought to be the most prolific serial abuser linked to the Church of England.

Justin Welby had been faces increasing pressure to resign about his “failure” to alert authorities to John Smyth QC’s “abhorrent” abuse of children and young men.

It is said that Smyth did that as many as 130 boys subdued and young men from traumatic physical, sexual and psychological abuse over fifty years in Britain and Africa.

The Makin review into Smyth’s abuse, published last week, concluded he could potentially have been brought to justice if Mr Welby had formally reported it to police a decade ago.

Mr Welby has said it was “very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatizing period between 2013 and 2024.”

He said: ‘Recent days have renewed my long-felt and deep sense of shame at the historic safeguarding failures of the Church of England.

“I believe that stepping aside is in the best interests of the Church of England, which I love deeply and have been honored to serve.”

Key points

Key dates in the John Smyth scandal

15:57 , Alexander Butler

• Seventies and eighties: John Smyth physically abused boys in Christian camps in Britain and Africa

• 1982: An investigation by the Iwerne Trust, which ran the camps, uncovers claims of abuse but does not report them to police

• 2013The Church of England was aware of the allegations “at the highest level”, the Makin report says

• 2013: Police were informed – Welby now says he “wrongly believed that an appropriate resolution would follow”

• 2016: The Iwerne Trust report has been made public

• 2017: Channel 4 News investigation highlights findings

• 2018: Smyth dies in Cape Town, having failed to receive justice

• 2019: Independent report, led by Keith Makin, commissioned by Church to examine the handling of the Smyth case

• November 7, 2024: Makin report published – Justin Welby initially says he won’t resign, but changes his mind days later

Failure to report sexual abuse should be a crime, says former NCA director

15:41 , Alexander Butler

Failure to report sexual abuse should be a crime, the former director of Britain’s National Crime Agency has said.

Paul Stanfield said a change in the law was needed after a spate of cases where sexual abuse was allegedly covered up within institutions.

“People in power should not turn a blind eye to abuse. When victims and survivors have the courage to come forward, that courage must be repaid with action to ensure justice is done,” he said.

Last week, Welby insisted he would not resign

15:24 , Alexander Butler

Following the publication on Thursday of the Makin review into John Smyth – which was critical of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s handling of the case – Justin Welby said he had “actually thought long and hard about his resignation for a very long time”.

Speaking to Channel 4 last week, Mr Welby added: “I have thought about it (resigning) a lot and took advice from senior colleagues just this morning, and no, I am not going to resign.”

Now he says: “It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatizing period between 2013 and 2024.”

King exchanged private words with Welby through ‘intermediaries’

15:22 , Alexander Butler

King Charles – the supreme governor of the Church of England – held private talks with Justin Welby through intermediaries this morning.

These words approved the dismissal process followed by their assistants. Public words from the King will be reserved for the formal departure point.

Pastor ‘deeply sad’

3:00 PM , Alexander Butler

The Revd Dr Ian Paul, Associate Minister at St Nic’s Church, Nottingham, a reverend behind the petition calling on the Archbishop of Canterbury to resign, said he was “deeply saddened” by the situation.

He said: “I am not happy at all, I am deeply saddened, I am saddened that this episode has happened, I am saddened for the victims, the survivors and that they have had to go through this again. .

“I think it’s very sad that this whole episode happened, I think it’s sad that the Makin report had to happen, and I think it’s sad that it took so long for meaningful action to take place.”

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby resigns: Read his resignation letter in full

14:52 , Alexander Butler

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby resigns: Read his resignation letter in full

Labor is increasing pressure on Justin Welby as he faces calls to resign over a sex abuse scandal

2:50 PM , Alexander Butler

Labor is putting pressure on Justin Welby as he faces calls to resign over a sex abuse row

Archbishop of York welcomes his resignation

2:40 PM , Alexander Butler

Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York, said Justin Welby’s resignation was “the right and honorable decision”.

He said: “As Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin has decided to take his share of responsibility for the failures identified by the Makin review. I believe this is the right and honorable thing to do.

“Although this is a difficult day for Justin, I pray that there will be an opportunity to reflect on and recognize the many positive aspects of his ministry and his tremendous commitment to the Church of England, the Anglican Communion and above all the Gospel of Jesus to appreciate Christ. .”

Full statement

14:38 , Alexander Butler

“Having requested the gracious permission of His Majesty the King, I have decided to resign as Archbishop of Canterbury.

“The Makin Review has exposed the long-perpetuated conspiracy of silence about John Smyth’s horrific abuses.

“When I was notified in 2013 and told that the police had been informed, I wrongly believed that an appropriate solution would follow.

“It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatizing period between 2013 and 2024.

“It is my duty to fulfill my constitutional and ecclesiastical responsibilities, so the exact timing will be determined once a review of the necessary commitments has been completed, including those in England and in the Anglican Communion.

“I hope this decision makes clear how seriously the Church of England understands the need for change and our deep commitment to creating a safer church. When I resign, I do so in sorrow with all victims and survivors of abuse.

‘Recent days have renewed my long-felt and deep sense of shame at the historic safeguarding failures of the Church of England. For almost twelve years I have struggled with making improvements. It is for others to judge what has been done.

“In the meantime, I will keep my promise to meet with victims. I will delegate all my other current security responsibilities until the necessary risk assessment process is completed.

“I ask everyone to keep my wife Caroline and my children in their prayers. They have been my greatest support throughout my ministry, and I am eternally grateful for their sacrifice.

“Caroline led the Spouses Program at the Lambeth Conference and has traveled tirelessly through conflict zones to support the most vulnerable, the women and those who care for them locally.

‘I believe that stepping aside is in the best interests of the Church of England, which I love deeply and have been honored to serve. I pray that this decision points us back to the love that Jesus Christ has for each of us.

“For above all, I am most deeply connected to the person of Jesus Christ, my Savior and my God; the bearer of the sins and burdens of the world, and the hope of every man.”

Church of England sex abuse victim urges Welby to quit a day before resigning

2:36 PM , Alexander Butler

A Church of England sex abuse victim has urged the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby to resign.

Pressure is growing on the Archbishop after he has failed to take more rigorous action against serial abuser John Smyth.

Mark Stibbe, a victim of Smyth who is considered the most prolific serial abuser associated with the Church, said Channel 4 News on Monday, November 11: “He did not do the right thing. He should have ensured that the abuse was properly reported to the authorities.”

Mr Stibbe called on Mr Welby to “do the right thing now” and resign.

Justin Welby resigns from the Church of England

2:33 PM , Alexander Butler

The Archbishop of Canterbury has resigned over a damning report into a lawyer considered the most prolific serial abuser associated with the Church of England.

Justin Welby was under increasing pressure to resign over his “failures” to alert authorities to John Smyth QC’s “abhorrent” abuse of children and young men.

Smyth is said to have subjected as many as 130 boys and young men to traumatic physical, sexual and psychological abuse in Britain and Africa over the past fifty years.

The Makin review into Smyth’s abuse, published last week, concluded he could potentially have been brought to justice if Mr Welby had formally reported it to police a decade ago.

Mr Welby has said it was “very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatizing period between 2013 and 2024.”

He said: ‘Recent days have renewed my long-felt and deep sense of shame at the historic safeguarding failures of the Church of England.

“I believe that stepping aside is in the best interests of the Church of England, which I love deeply and have been honored to serve.”