Archbishop Who Married Harry And Meghan Resigns In Shame Over Decade-Long Child Abuse Cover-Up
The Church of England is reeling after Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby announced his resignation amidst growing criticism over his handling of historic abuse allegations tied to the late John Smyth, a former church camp leader accused of horrific acts of abuse against young boys.
Welby, who has been the head of the Church of England since 2013, issued a public statement expressing deep regret for the Church’s failures in addressing the abuse and acknowledged the need for institutional accountability.
This shocking resignation comes just months after Welby presided over the coronation of King Charles III and the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, two of the most significant ceremonies in recent British history. Welby also officiated the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018.
At the center of the scandal is John Smyth, a once-prominent figure in evangelical circles who led Christian summer camps organized by the Iwerne Trust during the 1970s and 1980s. Smyth, who was also a respected barrister, used his position to gain access to boys from prestigious schools, subjecting them to severe physical beatings and sexual abuse under the guise of spiritual discipline. The abuse was reportedly carried out as part of his twisted interpretation of religious penance.
Investigations revealed that complaints about Smyth’s abuse were first raised internally by church officials as early as the 1980s. However, these warnings were not acted upon, and no formal reports were made to the police at the time. Smyth continued to hold positions of influence and, alarmingly, relocated to South Africa, where he continued his abusive practices until his death in 2018.
Welby, who was associated with the Iwerne camps as a young man, has faced mounting scrutiny over his role in the Church’s response to the allegations. Though he has consistently maintained that he had no knowledge of the abuse during his time attending the camps, it has since been revealed that he was informed of the accusations in 2013, shortly after becoming Archbishop. An independent review released earlier this month criticized Welby for failing to take decisive action to investigate Smyth’s abuses and for not ensuring the matter was properly reported to authorities.
In his resignation statement, Welby expressed profound sorrow, stating, "I must take responsibility for the failures of the institution I have led. It is with a heavy heart that I step down, recognizing that we must do better for victims and survivors who have suffered unimaginable pain." He emphasized that his decision was driven by the need to restore trust in the Church’s commitment to safeguarding.
Survivors of Smyth’s abuse have spoken out about the lifelong trauma they endured and the Church’s failure to act despite clear evidence of wrongdoing. This scandal has reignited calls for a complete overhaul of the Church of England’s safeguarding policies. The Archbishop's resignation may be seen as a step toward accountability, but many argue that changes are still urgently needed to prevent such tragedies from recurring.
The Church has pledged to cooperate fully with independent investigations and has vowed to implement more rigorous safeguards to protect children and vulnerable individuals in its care, but now the Church of England is left to reckon with the consequences of decades of silence and inaction.
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