LONDON (UNITED KINGDOM)
The Tablet [Market Harborough, England]
February 11, 2025
By Tabitha Smith
This was the first time the General Synod met since the resignation of the previous Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, over safeguarding failures.
The Church of England is “broken” according to the lead bishop for safeguarding.
Bishop of Stepney Joanne Grenfell said that “we need to soberly acknowledge the place we are in” during a debate at the General Synod of the Church of England on the Makin Review on Monday as victims of abuser John Smyth looked on.
The independent review, released last November, revealed that dozens of victims were “subjected to traumatic physical, sexual, psychological and spiritual attacks” at the hands of the late barrister which were covered up with a conspiracy of silence.
This was the first time the Synod, the church’s governing body, had met since the resignation of the previous Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, over safeguarding failures.
In her address to the Synod, Bishop Grenfell highlighted the work being done by the Church of England to reform safeguarding procedures, including funding “safe spaces” jointly with the Catholic Church of England and Wales to provide emotional support to victims of church-based abuse.
“We are ministering as a broken church. I am reminding you of that work in the hope that it will become part of the huge process of culture change in which we must all play our part.
“Faced with the unimaginable reality of John Smyth’s abuse, and the shame of being part of a church where individuals and groups of people covered up and responded in wholly inadequate ways to that and other abuse, the only possible response is our collective confession, repentance and commitment to turn back to God’s truth and light.”
During the debate, anonymous survivors of Smyth implored Synod members to consider the victims during their voting and discussions through statements read out by deputy lead bishop for safeguarding, Bishop of Birkenhead Julie Conalty.
Church of England admits ‘appalling’ and ‘horrific’ abuse by evangelical barrister John Smyth
Archbishop of Canterbury to resign over abuse scandal
One statement read: “Please imagine what it is like for survivors and victims waiting for justice. You are all witnesses and all to some extent complicit in failing victims so catastrophically by inaction, by lack of resolve, by failing to ensure processes changed and justice pursued relentlessly.”
Another said: “If the Church of England does not show moral leadership, then she will die, and the country will lose a valuable force for good, and so I urge anyone who has attempted to protect the Church from this scandal to come forward and explain their actions.”
Earlier, some members of the Synod attempted to prevent the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, from delivering his opening presidential address, either by voting for a move to stop the speech going ahead, or abstaining from the vote.
Following the protest’s failure, Archbishop Cottrell said: “I know mistakes have been made. I have made mistakes. But I am determined to do what I can to work with others to lead the change we all know we need.”