The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, announced his resignation Tuesday, following an independent review that criticized his response to allegations against John Smyth, a man believed to be "the most prolific serial abuser linked to the Church of England."
The review, published last Thursday, revealed that Welby failed to take adequate steps to report, investigate, and prevent abuses committed by Smyth, a lawyer and evangelical Christian leader.
Smyth, who died in 2018, allegedly abused over 100 boys and young men across Britain, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, subjecting them to brutal physical, sexual, and psychological trauma under the guise of religious discipline.
In his resignation statement, Welby acknowledged the church's prolonged "conspiracy of silence" surrounding the abuse.
"It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the retraumatizing period between 2013 and 2024," he stated, adding that he regretted not ensuring the abuse claims were "energetically investigated" after he was informed of them in 2013.
Smyth’s abusive practices date back to the 1970s and 1980s, when he allegedly targeted young boys he encountered at summer camps, universities, and private schools.
At one such institution, Winchester College, an internal investigation by the Iwerne Trust in the early 1980s uncovered his conduct but stopped short of notifying law enforcement.
Smyth then moved to Zimbabwe and later South Africa, where the report indicates he continued abusing young boys until his death.
Welby, who first issued a public apology in 2017 after a documentary by Channel 4 exposed Smyth’s crimes, issued another apology last week in response to mounting pressure.
Victims, church leaders, and over 14,000 petitioners from the General Synod urged Welby to step down, which he initially resisted.
Welby, 68, has served as a major faith leader and influential figure in both religious and state events, including the coronation of King Charles III and the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
He was scheduled to retire in 2026.
"With this resignation, I hope to demonstrate the Church’s commitment to creating a safer, more accountable space for all," Welby said, expressing solidarity with abuse survivors.
His resignation opens the door to a lengthy process for selecting a successor, who will be formally nominated by the British monarch with advice from a Church of England commission.
Story by: News Desk Report
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