Church letter

December 2024

Click for the church letter from November 2024

There is never a place for covering up abuse

Today it was announced that the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Justin Welby, has resigned. If you take the time to read the Makin Report - the independent review into the Church of England’s handling of the serious abuse by the late John Smyth - there can be no doubt that the Archbishop had to resign. Having met and spoken with Justin a number of times, I am saddened that his ministry has ended in this manner. My first thought last week when the report was published - and regrettably the Archbishop’s initial words - made it for me inevitable and crucial that he should step aside.

Anyone who says that ‘safeguarding is not important’, well, the John Smyth case and the resignation of the Archbishop clearly show that safeguarding is not only important, it is, unfortunately, essential. We must have, at the heart of everything, the needs of victims of abuse perpetrated by anyone in the church. The Archbishop has resigned over the church’s failings and his own failings, but every single one of us is responsible for the safeguarding of those who are vulnerable and those who have been abused.

One shocking statement within the Makin Report said: “Despite the efforts of some individuals to bring the abuse to the attention of authorities, the responses by the Church of England and others were wholly ineffective and amounted to a cover up.” It highlighted a comment made by a now deceased cleric who was aware in the 1980s of the extent of the abuse: “I thought it would do the work of God immense damage if this were public.” An appalling attitude: cover up and collusion, when calling out this evil was required. The CoE has got it wrong for centuries; we need, for Christ’s sake, and for the beginning of healing of the hurt caused, to start getting it right. If this has raised personal issues for you, please come and speak to me. If it has opened wounds and you need to report something, please have the courage to do so; I can help you with that if you wish. If you want to do it through one of the safeguarding officers in the Diocese rather than through me, then contact Paul Brightwell: pbrightwell@diocant.org, 07398 009951, or Fiona Coombs: fcoombs@diocant.org, 07548 232395. Or if you wish to contact Keith Makin, the man who has led this inquiry, he can be contacted on a dedicated confidential email at: keith.makin@independentreviews.live, or by phone on 07713 149683.

The CoE’s Lead Safeguarding Bishop, Joanne Grenfell, says: “Every member of the church is responsible for a culture in which victims are heard, responded to well, and put first: there is never a place for covering up abuse.” I truly hope we have all learnt that at last. We can’t undo the wrongs of the past; we can each play our part to work for a safer culture, community and church. I wish this could have been a happier letter for the December issue of the magazine, but we live in the real world, and these evils need speaking about. I hope to see you at some of the services throughout Advent and Christmas. God bless.

Revd David Commander, Rector and Area Dean