By Stephen Castle and Mark Landler
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Justin Welby, stepped down on Tuesday following a scathing report that determined he had not adequately pursued an investigation regarding allegations of extensive abuse of boys and young men at Christian summer camps from decades prior.
Pressure had built steadily on Welby, who is the spiritual head of 85 million Anglicans around the globe, after the report’s release. Helen-Ann Hartley, a prominent church official and bishop of Newcastle, publicly urged him to resign, while Prime Minister Keir Starmer notably chose not to support him.
Welby’s resignation abruptly concludes a dynamic and at times turbulent leadership, during which he emerged as the most recognized cleric in Britain, officiating significant public events such as the coronation of King Charles III, and becoming a fervent advocate on various issues, including migration.
However, Welby faced challenges unifying a church divided between progressives and traditionalists, ultimately being undone by similar sex-abuse controversies that have plagued leaders within the Catholic Church.
“It is abundantly clear that I must accept personal and institutional accountability for the lengthy and retraumatizing period spanning from 2013 to 2024,” Welby stated on Tuesday, confirming he had sought the king’s permission to resign.
“I hope my decision signals how seriously the Church of England recognizes the necessity for change and our deep commitment to establishing a safer church,” Welby remarked. “As I resign, I do so with deep sorrow for all victims and survivors of abuse.”
The upheaval within the Church of England follows a series of scandals in the Catholic Church regarding the failure to safeguard young individuals from predatory priests and the inadequate investigative responses to claims of misconduct, tarnishing the church’s reputation in various nations.
According to the Church of England’s protocols, managing the selection for Welby’s successor lies with a committee known as the Crown Nominations Commission. This group submits the name of a preferred candidate along with an alternative to the prime minister, who then advises the monarch about the appointment.
Experts on church matters noted that this process may take several months and is somewhat enigmatic. Traditionally, candidates do not self-promote for the position, which has origins tracing back to 597. Welby, aged 68, expressed surprise at being selected as the 105th archbishop. He has held the role since 2013 and intended to retire in 2026.
Welby managed a contentious, protracted discussion within the church regarding its stance on same-sex marriage. While the Church of England permits priests to bless same-sex unions, it continues to deliberate over granting these partnerships more formal recognition. Yet, it was his response to the sex-abuse scandal that led to his downfall.
Last week, an independent review concluded that the archbishop did not take adequate action following reports of “abhorrent” abuse perpetrated by John Smyth, a senior British attorney, against over 100 boys and young men in the 1970s and 1980s.
The review, conducted by Keith Makin, a former director of social services, stated that for over four decades, Smyth became “arguably, the most prolific serial abuser associated with the Church of England,” operating across three nations, inflicting physical, sexual, and psychological harm on as many as 130 individuals. He passed away in 2018 in South Africa.
The report condemned the actions of several church figures. “Despite some individuals’ attempts to alert authorities to the abuse, the responses from the Church of England and others were utterly ineffective and amounted to a cover-up,” it claimed.
In response to Makin’s findings, Welby stated he had “no knowledge or suspicion of this abuse prior to 2013,” but acknowledged that he “personally failed” to ensure the claims were properly investigated. In 2017, he admitted to having met Smyth but stated, “I wasn’t a close friend of his.”
Reiterating an apology made to the reviewers, Welby accepted that “he did not promptly meet with victims after the full extent of the abuse was uncovered” by Channel 4 in 2017.
“I pledged to meet them and failed to do so until 2020,” he said. “This was incorrect.”
That television report detailed how Smyth groomed boys and young men at Christian summer camps, universities, and at Winchester College, a prestigious British private school, before subjecting them to brutal beatings.
Smyth persuaded his victims “that suffering was the pathway to Christ,” the Makin report stated, highlighting that he subjected them to “traumatic physical, sexual, psychological, and spiritual assaults. The consequences of that abuse are immeasurable and have permanently affected the lives of his victims.”
The report indicated “clear evidence that the abuse committed by John Smyth in the U.K.” was “‘covered up’, minimized, and kept ‘secret’ since at least 1982 (and possibly earlier).”
From July 2013 onward, the Church of England was aware, at senior levels, of the abuse, it stated, noting that Welby became informed about the allegations against Smyth around August 2013, in his role as archbishop of Canterbury.
It further added: “There was a noticeable lack of curiosity displayed by these senior individuals and a tendency to downplay the issue, evident in the absence of any additional questioning and follow-up.”
The report concluded that Smyth could and should have been reported to the authorities in 2013, an action that likely would have led to a comprehensive investigation; the discovery of the serial nature of the abuses across the U.K., involving multiple victims; and the possibility of his prosecution.
On Monday, prior to Welby’s announcement, Hartley, the bishop of Newcastle, remarked to the BBC: “People are rightly questioning, ‘Can we genuinely trust the Church of England to keep us safe?’ And currently, the answer appears to be ‘no.’”
