The Archbishop of Canterbury said it was “clear” he had to quit after a damning review into the Church of England’s handling of a sexual abuse scandal.
Speaking publicly for the first time since resigning almost a month ago, Justin Welby addressed the House of Lords saying he acknowledged the situation “required a head to roll”.
The Archbishop resigned after the independent Makin review found John Smyth – the most prolific serial abuser to be associated with the Church – might have been brought to justice had Mr Welby formally reported him to police in 2013.
Making his valedictory speech in the Lords during a debate on homelessness today, the Archbishop 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.
“And there is only, in this case, one head that rolls well enough.”
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Read more:
Why has Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby resigned?
Who was John Smyth?
It comes as Lambeth Palace confirmed Mr Welby won’t be taking part in any public services for Christmas this year, spending the festivities privately with family instead.
It is tradition for the Archbishop of Canterbury to deliver a sermon on Christmas Day from Canterbury Cathedral.
It is likely Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell’s sermon will instead be the focus on Christmas Day.
At the time of his resignation, Mr Welby, whose last day in the job will be 6 January, said he was quitting “in sorrow with all victims and survivors of abuse”.
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Across five decades in three different countries, involving as many as 130 boys and young men in the UK and Africa, Smyth is said to have subjected his victims to traumatic physical, sexual, psychological, and spiritual attacks, permanently marking their lives.
Smyth died aged 75 in Cape Town in 2018 while still under investigation by Hampshire Police.
