(London) – The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, leader of the Anglican Communion, announced his resignation on Tuesday following a report that accused the Church of England of failing to report and address a pattern of abuse by a lawyer linked to the church. The report revealed that for decades, John Smyth, a British lawyer who organized church-supported summer camps, committed repeated abuses that the church knew about but failed to report properly.
The independent Makin Review, which investigated Smyth’s actions, found that Welby “could and should” have formally notified authorities of the abuse in 2013, a responsibility that many felt he neglected. The report’s release has led to growing calls for Welby to step down, with a petition demanding his resignation accumulating nearly 14,000 signatures. Clergy and some bishops have also voiced their concerns, pressuring him to resign.
In a statement, Welby accepted responsibility for the church’s failures in handling the abuse case. “It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and re-traumatising period between 2013 and 2024,” he said, adding that his resignation should convey “how seriously the Church of England understands the need for change” and its “profound commitment to creating a safer church.”
Welby expressed sorrow for the victims, stating, “As I step down, I do so in sorrow with all victims and survivors of abuse.”
The Makin Review documented that John Smyth, who led evangelical camps during the 1970s and 1980s, was responsible for what it termed “prolific, brutal and horrific” abuse involving up to 130 boys and young men. The report disclosed that the Church of England covered up the abuse, which included severe physical, sexual, psychological, and spiritual harm, over a period stretching from Britain to Zimbabwe and South Africa. Smyth moved to Africa in 1984 and continued his work there until his death in 2018 at the age of 75, never having faced criminal charges despite multiple allegations against him.
Welby, who has served as the Church of England’s most senior official since 2013, previously apologized for the church’s handling of the case but insisted he was unaware of Smyth’s actions before his appointment. On Tuesday, however, he acknowledged being informed that police were involved and expressed regret over believing that an “appropriate resolution would follow.”
Pressure on Welby intensified earlier in the day when UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, responding to the report, commented that Smyth’s victims had been “failed very, very badly.” Although Starmer, a former chief prosecutor, refrained from explicitly calling for Welby’s resignation, he described the abuse allegations as “horrific” and expressed sympathy for the victims. He added that the decision regarding Welby’s resignation ultimately rested with the church.
The Makin Review revealed that senior church leaders were aware of the scope of Smyth’s actions as early as 2013. By failing to inform the police, the report suggested, the church missed an opportunity to bring Smyth to justice and potentially left others at risk until his death in 2018.
The report also condemned the Church of England’s handling of a 2017 media investigation into Smyth’s abuses, describing the church’s response as “poor in terms of speed, professionalism, intensity and curiosity.”
Key Findings of the Makin Review
Details
Abuse Duration
1970s-1980s
Victims
Estimated up to 130 boys and young men
Church’s Response
Covered up abuse and delayed reporting to police, allowing the abuse to remain unaddressed across decades
Church Knowledge
Senior officials knew as early as 2013
Smyth’s Status
Moved to Africa in 1984, where he continued his work, died in 2018 under investigation
Independent Report Critique
The 2017 response to publicized allegations was deemed inadequate in professionalism, speed, and thoroughness
