Justin Welby, the former spiritual leader of Anglicans worldwide, acknowledged his failure to ensure proper investigations into allegations of abuse within the Church of England, describing the scale of the issue as "overwhelming."
His resignation as Archbishop of Canterbury in November 2024 came amid intensified calls for him to step down following a report detailing his insufficient action against one of the Church's most prolific serial abusers.
The report revealed that John Smyth, a British lawyer who volunteered at Christian summer camps, subjected over 100 boys and young men to "brutal and horrific" physical and sexual abuse over 40 years.
In a BBC interview, which will air in full on Sunday, Welby noted that "every day more cases were coming across the desk that ... hadn't been dealt with adequately (in the past)." He stated, "This was just another case - and yes, I knew Smyth but it was an absolutely overwhelming few weeks. It was overwhelming; one was trying to prioritize - but I think it's easy to sound defensive over this."
Welby reflected, "The reality is I got it wrong. As Archbishop of Canterbury, there are no excuses."
A spokesperson for the Church of England expressed that it is "deeply sorry" for the abuse suffered by Smyth's victims and affirmed that they remain committed to offering support. "If anyone comes forward to the Church today with a concern, they will be heard and responded to carefully and compassionately by safeguarding professionals according to our clearly set out guidance," the spokesperson stated.
The report indicated that Smyth moved to Africa in 1984, where he continued the abuse until close to his death in 2018. It also revealed that the Church had known at the highest levels about the sexual abuse claims since 2013, and that Welby became aware of the accusations in the same year, shortly after becoming Archbishop of Canterbury.
Since Welby's resignation, further allegations of abuse within the institution have surfaced.