Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby resigns after sex abuse cover-up report – live

Following Thursday’s publication of the Makin review into John Smyth – which was critical of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s handling of the case – Justin Welby said he had given resignation “a lot of thought for actually quite a long time”.

Speaking to Channel 4 last week, Mr Welby added: “I have given it [resigning] a lot of thought and have taken advice as recently as this morning from senior colleagues, and, no, I am not going to resign.”

Now, he says “it is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatising period between 2013 and 2024”.

King Charles – the supreme governor of the Church of England – exchanged private words with Justin Welby through intermediaries this morning.

These words approved the resignation process which was followed by their aides. Public words from the King will be reserved for the point of formal departure.

A reverend behind the petition calling on the Archbishop of Canterbury to resign, Revd Dr Ian Paul, Associate Minister at St Nic’s Church, Nottingham said he was “deeply saddened” by the situation.

He said: “I’m not thrilled at all, I’m deeply saddened, I’m saddened that this episode has come up, I’m grieved for the victims, the survivors and that they’ve had to go through this again.

“I think it’s very sad that this whole episode has happened, I think it’s sad that the Makin Report had to happen, and I think it’s sad that it’s taken so long for meaningful action to take place.”

Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York, said Justin Welby’s resignation was “the right and honourable thing to do”.

He said: “As Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin has decided to take his share of responsibility for the failures identified by the Makin review. I believe this is the right and honourable thing to do.

“Whilst this is a difficult day for Justin, I pray there will be an opportunity to reflect on and appreciate the many positive aspects of his ministry and his huge commitment to the Church of England, the Anglican Communion and above all the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

“Having sought the gracious permission of His Majesty The King, I have decided to resign as Archbishop of Canterbury.

“The Makin Review has exposed the long-maintained conspiracy of silence about the heinous abuses of John Smyth.

“When I was informed in 2013 and told that police had been notified, I believed wrongly that an appropriate resolution would follow.

“It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatising period between 2013 and 2024.

“It is my duty to honour my constitutional and church responsibilities, so exact timings will be decided once a review of necessary obligations has been completed, including those in England and in the Anglican Communion.

“I hope this decision makes clear how seriously the Church of England understands the need for change and our profound commitment to creating a safer church. As I step down I do so in sorrow with all victims and survivors of abuse.

“The last few days have renewed my long-felt and profound sense of shame at the historic safeguarding failures of the Church of England. For nearly 12 years I have struggled to introduce improvements. It is for others to judge what has been done.

“In the meantime, I will follow through on my commitment to meet victims. I will delegate all my other current responsibilities for safeguarding until the necessary risk assessment process is complete.

“I ask everyone to keep my wife Caroline and my children in their prayers. They have been my most important support throughout my ministry, and I am eternally grateful for their sacrifice.

“Caroline led the spouses’ programme during the Lambeth Conference and has travelled tirelessly in areas of conflict supporting the most vulnerable, the women, and those who care for them locally.

“I believe that stepping aside is in the best interests of the Church of England, which I dearly love and which I have been honoured to serve. I pray that this decision points us back towards the love that Jesus Christ has for every one of us.

“For above all else, my deepest commitment is to the person of Jesus Christ, my saviour and my God; the bearer of the sins and burdens of the world, and the hope of every person.”

A Church of England sex abuse victim has urged the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby to resign.

Pressure is growing on the Archbishop over his failure to act more rigorously over the serial abuser John Smyth.

Mark Stibbe, a victim of Smyth, thought to be the most prolific serial abuser to be associated with the Church, told Channel 4 News on Monday 11 November: “He didn’t do the right thing. He should have made sure the abuse was properly reported to the authorities.”

Mr Stibbe called for Mr Welby to do the “right thing now” and resign.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has resigned over a damning report into a barrister thought to have been the most prolific serial abuser to be associated with the Church of England.

Justin Welby had been facing growing pressure to stand down over his “failures” to alert authorities about John Smyth QC’s “abhorrent” abuse of children and young men.

Smyth is said to have subjected as many as 130 boys and young men to traumatic physical, sexual and psychological abuse over five decades in the UK and Africa.

The Makin review into Smyth’s abuse, published last week, concluded that he might have been brought to justice had Mr Welby formally reported it to police a decade ago.

Mr Welby has said it was “very clear I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatising period between 2013 and 2024.”

He said: “The last few days have renewed my long felt and profound sense of shame at the historic safeguarding failures of the Church of England.

“I believe that stepping aside is in the best interests of the Church of England, which I dearly love and which I have been honoured to serve.”