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Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby announced his resignation on Tuesday after an independent investigation revealed he failed to report a serial abuser who assaulted over 100 young boys and men at Christian holiday camps across two continents. The Makin Review found that Welby was informed in 2013, soon after assuming his leadership role in the Anglican church, about the abusive actions of John Smyth, which affected around 30 individuals in the United Kingdom and 85 in Africa over a span of five decades.

Despite this knowledge, the abuse allegations against Smyth only came to public attention in 2017, triggered by a report from Britain's Channel 4 television station, which led to a police investigation. Welby, leading a global congregation of 85 million Anglicans, expressed his sorrow in a resignation letter, acknowledging both "personal and institutional responsibility" for his failure to report the allegations to the police when initially informed. He sought and received the King's permission to step down but noted that the exact date of his departure would be determined later, as he intends to fulfill his constitutional and church duties.

The detailed, 251-page report highlighted Smyth's horrific abuses, describing them as prolific and brutal, involving severe physical, sexual, psychological, and spiritual harm to his victims. It criticized the Church of England for not properly reporting Smyth to authorities, noting that the highest levels of the church had been aware of his actions since July 2013. The review also disclosed that Welby and Smyth interacted at Christian camps and even exchanged Christmas cards over several years; however, Welby emphasized they were never close.

Smyth, a prominent lawyer who volunteered at these camps, passed away in 2018 while under investigation in Cape Town, South Africa. The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, endorsed Welby’s decision to resign, calling it "the right and honorable thing to do." Cottrell emphasized the need for the Church of England to adopt a more victim-centered and trauma-informed approach to safeguarding, addressing broader issues of culture and leadership within the institution.

Andrew Morse, a victim of Smyth's abuse, described Welby's resignation as a "positive step" amidst the longstanding trauma inflicted by Smyth. A petition by members of the Church of England’s national assembly, which gathered over 13,000 signatures, had demanded Welby’s resignation.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer remarked that while it was ultimately up to the Church to decide on Welby's resignation, the allegations were clearly horrific, and it was undeniable that the victims were failed. The Makin Review also uncovered an internal investigation into Smyth in 1982, indicating an active cover-up to suppress the findings, allowing Smyth to relocate to Zimbabwe in 1984 and later to South Africa, where he continued his abusive actions.