(ZENIT News / London, 11.12.2024).- A disturbing chapter in the Church of England’s recent history is back in the public eye, with fresh scrutiny falling on Archbishop Justin Welby following the release of a long-delayed report by investigator Keith Makin. The report highlights how John Smyth, a former Queen’s Counsel lawyer and influential figure within a Church-aligned evangelical movement, repeatedly abused more than 130 young boys and adolescents under the guise of Christian mentorship at Iwerne Trust camps, events attended by elite students from the UK’s top public schools.
Smyth’s abuse spanned years, concealed behind the closed doors of a soundproofed shed and veiled by a culture of secrecy. Despite initial warnings in 1984, he moved to Zimbabwe, where he continued his “camp” practices, leading to the tragic death of a young boy, Guide Nyachuru, in 1992. When Smyth faced renewed scrutiny and arrest in Zimbabwe, he fled to South Africa, where he lived unpunished until his death.
The Makin report’s release, over a decade in the making, revealed a web of delayed responses and inadequate resources from the Church of England, a fact that has deeply angered victims. “Justice delayed is justice denied,” victims expressed, grieving the years it took to acknowledge their suffering. They pointed directly to Welby’s office as the root cause of this delay, emphasizing that the Church’s hesitation only intensified their anguish.
In a particularly controversial twist, Archbishop Welby, who had once been connected to the Iwerne Trust camp as a youth leader, is now implicated for alleged failures to act despite having received a briefing on the extent of Smyth’s abuses in 2013. His response to these revelations has been seen as inadequate by both victims and clergy alike. In interviews, Welby acknowledged “incompetence” but denied any deliberate cover-up, a sentiment that has left many victims unsatisfied.
The frustration over Welby’s actions has resonated within Church leadership, especially after his 2017 interview on LBC, where he mistakenly claimed the Smyth case had been reported to the police. In reality, no such action had been taken, and it was only through the intervention of journalist Kathy Newman that police involvement eventually occurred.
In a recent interview with Newman, Welby was asked if his failure to act was motivated by a desire to protect the Church. Welby’s response was telling: “If this report were a mortal blow to the institution, so be it. God will raise another.” Despite acknowledging his failures as “incompetence,” Welby’s reluctance to resign has fueled calls for his departure from figures within the Church, including Reverend Fergus Butler-Gallie. In an open letter, Butler-Gallie pleaded for Welby’s resignation, stating, “For the love of God, and only for Him, please go.”
The Archbishop’s acceptance of responsibility for his mishandling of the Smyth case has not softened the blow for many, who argue that his response lacks the action needed to restore faith in Church leadership. With Welby now formally stepping down, he leaves a legacy fraught with controversy and hard questions. Will his departure pave the way for a more transparent and trauma-informed Church of England? For many of Smyth’s victims, only time will tell if this painful chapter in the Church’s history will lead to a genuinely restorative future.
Thank you for reading our content. If you would like to receive ZENIT’s daily e-mail news, you can subscribe for free through this link.
