Welby apologises for hurt attributable to farewell Lords speech

The outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has apologised after his farewell speech within the House of Lords sparked anger from victims of abuse. 

Welby delivered the speech ahead of his departure from office next month and was accused of creating light of significant safeguarding failings by the Church of England after he joked that a head needed to “roll”. 

“The reality is that there comes a time for those who are technically leading a specific institution or area of responsibility where the shame of what has gone incorrect – whether one is personally responsible or not – must require a head to roll. And there is simply, on this case, one head that rolls well enough.”

He added, “I hope not literally,” referencing a 14th century archbishop who was beheaded.

Welby resigned last month over institutional and private failings within the handling of horrific abuse by late Christian camp organiser John Smyth. The Makin Review that prompted his resignation concluded that it was possible more victims might have been saved if Welby had reported Smyth to the police after becoming aware of the abuse in 2013.

Welby’s comments within the Lords sparked a backlash even from senior clergy inside the Church of England who accused him of appearing to shun personal responsibility.

Welby has now apologised, saying, “I would love to apologise wholeheartedly for the hurt that my speech has caused.

“I understand that my words – the things that I said, and people I omitted to say – have caused further distress for many who were traumatised, and proceed to be harmed, by John Smyth’s heinous abuse, and by the far reaching effects of other perpetrators of abuse.

“I didn’t intend to overlook the experience of survivors, or to make light of the situation – and I’m very sorry for having done so.

“It stays the case that I take each personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatising period after 2013, and the harm that this has caused survivors.

“I proceed to feel a profound sense of shame on the Church of England’s historic safeguarding failures.”

Smyth’s victims spoke out against Welby’s Lord’s speech, saying that it had struck an inappropriately “frivolous” tone.

A victim who wished to stay anonymous told the London Evening Standard, “I actually have never come across anyone so tone deaf.

“He has resigned in shame, burdened by the Makin Review with ‘moral and private responsibility’ and all he can do is joke about rolling heads.

“There have been two suicide attempts. This is not any time to joke.

“This must have been time for reflection and sorrow. I’m just appalled,” he added.

He continued: “The bottom line is that John Smyth was not stopped in 2013, after the Archbishop, other bishops and scores of clergy knew concerning the abuse.

“He ought to be ashamed, not joking about his mates within the Lords.”

One victim, using the pseudonym Graham Jones, told the BBC that he had been “disgusted” by the speech and said that Welby’s tone “didn’t seem like one in every of sorrow which is what was required”.

“This would have been a chance to look into the camera and apologize but as a substitute he talked frivolously a couple of matter that has led to suicide attempts by victims,” he said.

Premier Christian News reports that the Church of England’s lead safeguarding bishops, Rt Rev Joanne Grenfell, Rt Rev Julie Conalty and Rt Rev Robert Springett, have written to victims of Smyth to apologise for Welby’s comments. 

“Both in content and delivery, the speech was utterly insensitive, lacked any concentrate on victims and survivors of abuse, especially those affected by John Smyth, and made light of the events surrounding the Archbishop’s resignation. It was mistaken and incorrect. We acknowledge and deeply regret that this has caused further harm to you in an already distressing situation,” they said. 

“We know that the Church of England has seriously failed over a few years at many levels in relation to safeguarding, and we’re so sorry that yesterday’s speech was the antithesis of all that we at the moment are attempting to work towards by way of culture change and redress with all of you.

“As lead bishops for safeguarding within the Church of England, we apologise to you.”

The Bishop of Newcastle, Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, who led calls for Welby’s resignation over the John Smyth scandal, told Channel 4 News’s Cathy Newman that she was “greatly disturbed” and “greatly ashamed” by the speech and that it “seems to place the main focus away from personal responsibility to a way of corporate responsibility”.

Lambeth Palace confirmed this week that Welby’s last day in post as Archbishop of Canterbury will likely be on Epiphany on 6 January. 

The duties of the office will likely be shared by the Archbishop of York, Bishop of London and Bishop of Dover until a recent Archbishop of Canterbury is appointed. 

“With the gracious agreement of HM The King, Archbishop Justin’s last day in post because the Archbishop of Canterbury will likely be on the Feast of the Epiphany, sixth January 2025,” a press release from Welby’s office read.

“From that date, his primatial functions will likely be delegated, mainly to the Archbishop of York, his metropolitan functions to the Bishop of London and his diocesan functions to the Bishop of Dover.”