Archbishop of Canterbury leaves sex abuse victims ‘dismayed’ and ‘disgusted’ after ‘frivolous’ speech

Outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has faced strong criticism from abuse survivors after making a light-hearted resignation speech in the House of Lords yesterday.

Welby, who announced his resignation last month following the Church of England abuse scandal, drew condemnation for his “frivolous” tone and jokes while discussing safeguarding failures.

Victims said they were “dismayed” and “disgusted” by the speech, which they claim showed no remorse for survivors.

The controversy centres on comments made during a debate where the Archbishop appeared to distance himself from personal responsibility in handling the John Smyth abuse case.

Speaking in the Lords, Welby said: “The reality is that there comes a time if you are technically leading a particular institution or area of responsibility where the shame of what has gone wrong whether one is personally responsible or not must require a head to roll.”

He added: “And there is only, in this case, one head that rolls well enough.”

The Archbishop made light-hearted references to a 14th century predecessor who had been beheaded, adding: “I hope not literally.”

He began by joking about his diary secretary who had worked hard arranging his schedule before his resignation announcement.

Welby claimed that safeguarding in the Church of England was now “a completely different picture to the past”.

Mark Stibbe, who was groomed and beaten by Smyth in the 1970s, condemned the Archbishop’s remarks.

He said: “I object to the use of such a frivolous tone in such a serious matter – a matter that has been, and continues to be, a matter of life and death to some.”

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Another victim, identified as Graham Jones in the Makin report, told the BBC he was “disgusted by the speech”.

“It did not appear to be one of sorrow which is what was required,” Jones added.

He criticised Welby for talking “frivolously about a matter that has led to suicide attempts by victims” instead of using the opportunity to apologise.

Jones also took issue with the Archbishop’s comments about his diary secretary, arguing: “He said he pitied his diary secretary without a word of pity for the victims of abuse.”

Smyth, a barrister and lay preacher, is believed to have abused more than 100 boys and young men at Christian summer camps in England during the 1970s and 1980s.

He continued his abuse in South Africa and Zimbabwe until his death in Cape Town in 2018, aged 75.

The independent Makin review found Church officials, including Welby, “could and should” have reported Smyth to police in 2013.

The review stated Welby had a “personal and moral responsibility” to do more to prevent further abuse in South Africa.

In his resignation statement last month, Welby said he “must take personal and institutional responsibility” for his response when first informed about the abuse.

The Bishop of Newcastle Helen-Ann Hartley added her voice to the criticism, saying she was “deeply disturbed” by the Archbishop’s language.

“To make light of serious matters of safeguarding failures in this way yet again treats victims and survivors of church abuse without proper respect or regard,” she said.

Hartley expressed disappointment at seeing other bishops in the House of Lords laughing at the jokes.

The Bishop of Newcastle, who was the most senior member of the clergy to call for Welby’s resignation after the Makin report, has reportedly been “frozen out” by her Church of England colleagues following her remarks.

Welby is due to step down from Lambeth Palace on January 6, with Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell taking temporary charge until a permanent replacement is found.

The search for a successor is expected to take around six months.

Lambeth Palace confirmed this week that Welby will not deliver the traditional Christmas Day sermon at Canterbury Cathedral.