Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby QUITS: Archbishop reveals his ‘profound sense of shame’ as he resigns after damning report found his failure to act meant serial child abuser never faced justice

The Archbishop of Canterbury dramatically resigned today and admitted he feels “embarrassed” by the way the victims of the Church’s most prolific child abuser were let down.

Justin Welby said he would retire after a damning report found its Failure to act meant “abhorrent” serial abuser John Smyth was never brought to justice.

Dr Welby had initially tried to hold on, but was effectively forced to resign after senior colleagues joined in the criticism and more than 10,000 signed a petition. Keir Starmer had also steadfastly refused to back the archbishop.

In a statement this afternoon, Dr Welby said: ‘Having sought the kind permission of His Majesty the King, I have decided to resign as Archbishop of Canterbury.

‘The Makin Review has exposed the long conspiracy of silence over John Smyth’s appalling abuse.

“When I was informed in 2013 and told that the police had been notified, I mistakenly believed that a proper resolution would be reached.

“It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and re-traumatizing period between 2013 and 2024.

“It is my duty to honor my constitutional and ecclesiastical responsibilities, so the exact deadlines will be decided once a review of the necessary obligations, including those of England and the Anglican Communion, has been completed.”

Dr Welby added: “The last few days have renewed my deep and heartfelt sense of shame at the historic safeguarding failures of the Church of England.”

Sir Keir refused to back Dr Welby on Monday after a senior bishop called on him to resign, saying instead it is “really a Church matter”.

However, today he went a step further when asked about growing calls for the Archbishop to resign while attending Cop29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Sir Keir said the findings of Keith Makin’s review that Smyth abused more than 100 children and young people are “clearly horrific” and that his victims “have obviously been failed very, very seriously”.

The Prime Minister said: ‘Let me be clear. From what I know of the allegations, they are clearly horrific in relation to this particular case and in both their scale and their content, and my thoughts, as they are with all of these issues, are with the victims here, who are obviously It has failed them a lot. , very badly.

“Ultimately it’s a Church matter, but I’m not going to shy away from saying these are horrible allegations and my thoughts are with the victims in relation to this and I think that’s very important.”

Much pressure had been put on Dr Welby after a senior bishop broke ranks yesterday calling for him to resign immediately.

The Right Reverend Helen-Ann Hartley, Bishop of Newcastle, said his position was “untenable”, adding: “I think he should resign.”

“I think it’s very difficult for the church, as an established national church, to continue to have a moral voice in any way, shape or form in our nation, when we can’t get our own house in order,” he told the BBC.

And he added that while Dr Welby’s resignation “is not going to solve the problem”, it would be “a very clear indication that a line has been drawn and that we must move towards safeguarding independence”.

Meanwhile, a petition – started by three members of the Church’s governing body, the General Synod, and backed by several high-profile priests – calling for the Archbishop’s resignation garnered 12,000 signatures this morning.

The petition says: “Given his role in allowing abuses to continue, we believe his continuance as Archbishop of Canterbury is no longer sustainable.” We must see change, for the sake of the survivors, for the protection of the vulnerable and for the good of the Church.’