In a candid admission that echoes throughout the corridors of the Church of England, former Archbishop Justin Welby has acknowledged failures in addressing the widespread allegations of abuse that have plagued the institution. Describing the scale of the scandal as “overwhelming,” Welby reflected on his tenure as he faced growing criticism over his handling of these grave matters.

Welby, who resigned as the Archbishop of Canterbury in November 2024 amid mounting pressure to step down, did so following the release of a damning report that revealed his insufficient actions against one of the Church's most notorious serial abusers. 

The report detailed the harrowing experience of John Smyth, a British lawyer and volunteer at Christian summer camps, who subjected over 100 boys and young men to “brutal and horrific” physical and sexual abuse spanning four decades. In a forthcoming interview with the BBC, set to air in full on Sunday, Welby described the frustration and turmoil as he attempted to manage the influx of neglected cases. 

“Every day more cases were coming across the desk that hadn’t been dealt with adequately in the past," Welby stated. “This was just another case - and yes, I knew Smyth, but it was an absolutely overwhelming few weeks. One was trying to prioritize, but I think it’s easy to sound defensive over this.” 

He continued, acknowledging his failures, “The reality is I got it wrong. As Archbishop of Canterbury, there are no excuses.” 

According to the report, the Church of England had been aware of allegations concerning Smyth as early as 2013, a full year before Welby formally assumed the role of Archbishop. Yet, despite this knowledge, the church’s response remained woefully inadequate, raising serious questions about accountability at the highest levels of the institution. Smyth, who relocated to Africa in 1984, continued his abusive practices until shortly before his death in 2018. 

The Church of England has not yet responded to requests for comments regarding Welby’s interview, as the fallout from the abuse scandal continues to reverberate through the Anglican community and beyond.