Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the highest-ranking cleric in the Church of England, announced his resignation on Tuesday, acknowledging failures in handling allegations of abuse tied to Christian summer camps decades ago. Welby cited “personal and institutional responsibility” for insufficient action on “heinous abuses” perpetrated by a camp volunteer.
“The last few days have intensified my deep sense of shame over the historic safeguarding failures of the Church of England,” Welby wrote in his resignation letter. “I hope this decision underscores the Church’s commitment to creating a safer environment. As I step down, my sorrow is with all victims and survivors of abuse.”
Welby’s resignation follows the release of the independent Makin Report, which criticized his response to abuse claims dating back to the 1970s. The report detailed that John Smyth, a British lawyer and chairman of the Iwerne Trust, subjected over 100 young men to “brutal and horrific” abuse at Christian camps in Dorset, where Welby had worked before his ordination.
According to the report, Smyth’s abuse continued after he moved to Africa in 1984, affecting individuals in Zimbabwe and South Africa until his death in 2018. The report stated that the Church learned of the allegations in 2013, soon after Welby became archbishop. While Welby apologized for “failures and omissions,” he maintained he had “no idea or suspicion” of the allegations before that year. However, the report deemed this unlikely, suggesting his failure to initiate a thorough investigation and noting that a 2013 police report might have led to charges against Smyth before his death.
The selection process for Welby’s successor involves a body of clerics and a prime minister-nominated chair, who will present two names for consideration. Bishops Graham Usher of Norwich and Guli Francis-Dehqani of Chelmsford are seen as potential candidates to become the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury.
