Survivors of the abuse, particularly those targeted by John Smyth, a prominent figure who abused young men for decades, expressed relief at Welby’s decision, seeing it as a step toward accountability.
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the spiritual leader of the Church of England and the Anglican Communion, announced his resignation on Tuesday following an investigation that revealed he failed to promptly report serial physical and sexual abuse by a volunteer at Christian summer camps.
The pressure on Welby intensified after the investigation’s findings were published last Thursday, sparking outrage over the church’s lack of accountability.
Criticism grew, with Newcastle Bishop Helen-Ann Hartley calling Welby’s position “untenable” as a petition circulated within the church’s national assembly, urging his resignation.
In a statement, Welby said he believed stepping down was “in the best interests of the Church of England”.
The backlash was strongest from victims of John Smyth, who sexually and physically abused young men at Christian camps in the UK, Zimbabwe and South Africa over five decades.
Andrew Morse, a survivor of Smyth’s abuse, expressed that Welby’s resignation was a necessary step towards healing and accountability for the church’s past failures in addressing abuse.
Morse says that Welby’s departure represents “an opportunity for him to stand with the victims of the Smyth abuse and all victims that have not been treated properly by the Church of England in their own abuse cases.”
Welby’s departure highlights the Church of England’s ongoing struggle with historical sexual abuse.
A 2022 report from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse found that the Church of England’s culture of deference and its support of alleged perpetrators over victims created an environment where abuse could happen unchecked.
