• Justin Welby is stepping down after an investigation found he failed to report the sexual abuse of numerous boys and young men in the UK & Africa.
• The report concluded that timely action by him could have curtailed the abuses. Many have condemned his inaction & the lack of accountability within the Church of England.
The tenure of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby concludes on Monday after revelations that he failed to alert authorities to the serial sexual abuse of young boys and men by a volunteer at Christian summer camps. The Arch Bishop of Canterbury was informed of the abhorrent actions of the man.
In November, Welby announced his resignation after an independent investigation into John Smyth, a prominent barrister accused of sexually, psychologically, and physically abusing approximately 30 boys and young men in the United Kingdom and 85 in Africa during the 1970s and beyond. Smyth, who died in 2018, had his crimes detailed in the 251-page Makin Review, which found that Welby failed to report the abuse to police in August 2013, shortly after assuming his role as Archbishop of Canterbury. Tragically, the report concluded that timely action by Welby could have curtailed Smyth’s abuses earlier. The report asserted that Mr Welby had “personal and moral responsibility” and that he “could and should have done more” in the case.
In December, several abuse victims reacted with “disgust” at a short farewell speech Mr Welby gave at the House of Lords, in which he made jokes. Mr Welby apologised the following day.
Welby’s initial decision to remain in office provoked widespread criticism, fueling concerns over the lack of accountability at the church’s highest echelons. His resignation takes place against the backdrop of broader historical revelations of sexual abuse within the Church of England. A 2022 report by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse highlighted a systemic culture that prioritised protecting alleged perpetrators over victims, enabling the Church to become, in its words, “a place where abusers could hide.”
As Archbishop of Canterbury, Welby held a position of great symbolic importance within the Anglican Communion, which encompasses over 85 million members across 165 countries. While each national church operates independently, the Archbishop of Canterbury is regarded as primus inter pares—first among equals.
Welby, the head of the Church of England and spiritual leader of the global Anglican Communion, will ceremonially lay down his bishop’s crozier—a symbolic staff marking the conclusion of his ministry. The majority of his official responsibilities will transition to the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell.
However, Stephen Cottrell has also faced calls to resign over his handling of an abuse case.
A BBC investigation last month revealed that in 2010, just days after becoming Bishop of Chelmsford, Mr. Cottrell was informed of multiple historical sexual abuse allegations against David Tudor, a priest under his supervision. He was also made aware that both the Church and the local council had prohibited Tudor from being left alone with children.
In a statement, Mr. Cottrell described the situation as “an awful situation to live with and to manage,” adding, “I want victims and survivors to know that everything was done to understand, assess and manage the risk.”
Despite this, under Mr. Cottrell’s leadership, Tudor’s contract as area dean was renewed twice, and in 2015, he was appointed honorary canon of Chelmsford Cathedral. Tudor was only suspended in 2019 when a new police investigation commenced. Archbishop Cottrell has maintained that he acted as soon as it was legally permissible.
While assuming the responsibilities of Mr. Welby, Mr. Cottrell will remain based at Bishopthorpe Palace in North Yorkshire. He is expected to serve as the de facto leader of the Church of England until at least the summer.
