Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby Resigns Amid Intense Scrutiny Over His Inaction on the Abuse Scandal Involving John Smyth

Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has stepped down following intense scrutiny and pressure over his failure to address the abuses committed by John Smyth, one of the Church’s most notorious child abusers.

Welby expressed deep “shame” after a damning report revealed that Smyth, who abused over 100 boys and young men, was never brought to justice.

A Damning Review and Growing Pressure

The Makin Review, a comprehensive investigation into the Church’s handling of Smyth’s abuse, uncovered a troubling pattern of silence and negligence.

Despite initial attempts to hold his position, Welby faced overwhelming pressure as senior Church officials, including a Bishop and more than 12,000 petitioners, called for his resignation.

Even Prime Minister Keir Starmer refrained from supporting Welby, describing the findings of the review as “horrific” and expressing his concern for the victims, who had been “failed very badly.”

Welby’s Statement on His Resignation

Welby officially announced his resignation in a statement, revealing that he had sought and received “gracious permission” from King Charles III to step down.

He acknowledged the long period of inaction between 2013 and 2024, accepting personal and institutional responsibility for the failure to act sooner.

Expressing his profound sense of shame over the historic safeguarding failures within the Church, Welby vowed to continue meeting with victims and survivors of abuse and pledged to delegate his safeguarding duties until further assessments were completed.

Reactions from Church Leaders

Following Welby’s resignation, other Church leaders responded to the news.

Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York, praised Welby for taking responsibility, calling it “the right and honourable thing to do.”

Cottrell also emphasized the Church’s ongoing need for reform, particularly in safeguarding practices, and acknowledged Welby’s role in advocating for these changes.

However, he stressed that there is still much work to be done to prevent such abuses in the future.

Public Outcry and the Road Ahead

Welby’s resignation marks a pivotal moment in the scandal surrounding the Church of England, with calls for greater accountability and independent safeguarding intensifying.

While Welby’s departure may signal a step toward change, many believe the real work lies ahead.

The Church must now confront deeper cultural and leadership issues to ensure that such abuses never happen again.

For victims and survivors of Smyth’s abuse, the fight for justice and systemic change continues.