Welby’s resignation – a pivotal moment for the Church of England after failures to protect survivors of abuse?

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has resigned today over a report that found the Church of England covered up a barrister’s shocking abuse of boys and young men.

Welby’s resignation comes after the long-awaited Makin report revealed he had failed to act on reports of  abuse by John Smyth, who was described in the report as the ‘most prolific serial abuser associated with the Church of England’. Smyth, who ran summer camps for young Christians died aged 77 in Cape Town in 2018, is thought to have subjected as many as 130 victims to ‘appalling’ sexual violence.

The report set out that the Church of England knew about the abuse ‘at the highest level’ from July 2013 but failed to refer it to the police. Welby was singled out for failing to report Smyth’s abuse.

Many will be retraumatised by the news that Welby, a figure who was expected to lead with integrity, failed to act on these reports of abuse in 2013. Survivors’ advocates have argued that the failure to address these issues in a transparent and timely manner is a continuation of the Church’s long history of neglecting the needs of survivors. The Church has long been criticised for its culture of secrecy, which has enabled abuse to persist over decades. This latest scandal has reignited calls for a full, independent inquiry into the Church’s handling of abuse cases, including how financial interests may have influenced decision-making.

Although Justin Welby’s resignation marks a pivotal moment in the Church of England’s reckoning with its past failures to protect survivors of abuse, many will be questioning how the church can rebuild trust. Ensuring that such abuses never occur again requires a commitment to reform, comprehensive oversight, and an unwavering focus on the well-being of the vulnerable, rather than protecting institutional reputation.