LONDON — An independent review has revealed that the Church of England concealed “horrific” abuse perpetrated by a lawyer who volunteered at Christian summer camps during the 1970s and 1980s. The report, released on Thursday, highlights that the ceremonial head of the Anglican Communion failed to report the misconduct to law enforcement when he first became aware of it in 2013.
John Smyth, who passed away in South Africa in 2018 at the age of 75, is accused of physically, sexually, psychologically, and spiritually abusing around 30 boys and young men in the U.K. and approximately 85 others in Africa over a staggering five decades. The comprehensive 251-page investigation commissioned by the church identifies Smyth as one of the most notorious serial abusers connected with the organization.
Keith Makin, the leader of the review, noted the courage of the victims who spoke out after silently enduring their trauma for over four decades. He emphasized that despite the attempts of some individuals to alert the authorities, the responses from the Church of England and other entities were entirely inadequate and amounted to a form of coverup.
In response, the church expressed its deep regret for the horrific abuse, asserting that there is no justification for concealing such acts. Smyth, an accomplished lawyer and engaging speaker, served as a volunteer leader at the Iwerne camps. These camps, affiliated with the church, were designed to prepare young men from prestigious schools for prominent positions within the church and broader societal roles.
The report describes how Smyth used a cane to inflict punishment on campers for perceived “sins,” which included “pride,” sexual comments, masturbation, or even, in one instance, glancing at a girl for too long. Disturbingly, the victims and Smyth were often at least partially undressed during these brutal beatings.
The severity and scope of Smyth’s actions were noted as appalling, with documented cases of beatings including 100 strokes for masturbation, 400 for pride, and a staggering 800 strokes for an unspecified ‘offense.’ Eight of the victims endured about 14,000 strokes of the cane, while two reported receiving 8,000 lashes over a span of three years. Many victims recounted experiences of bleeding from the beatings, and others reported lasting bruises and scars.
In 1982, a confidential report detailing the abuse was prepared by a minister, and other church officials were made aware of it; however, the police were never notified. Now-deceased Rev. David Fletcher expressed concern that publicizing the abuse could severely damage the church’s reputation.
Although Smyth was urged to leave the U.K., he relocated to Zimbabwe with his family, reportedly with financial support from church officials. The report indicated that church authorities were aware of the abuse yet failed to take necessary action to prevent further incidents.
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the ceremonial figurehead of the church, had the chance to report Smyth after discovering the abuse in 2013 but did not take action. Welby, who had attended the Iwerne camps and was familiar with Smyth, stated that he was unaware of the abuse prior to 2013. Nonetheless, he accepted accountability stating, “the review is clear that I personally failed to ensure that after disclosure in 2013 the awful tragedy was energetically investigated.”
The report indicated that had Smyth been reported to authorities in 2013, it might have led to an investigation that could have revealed the extent of his actions and resulted in potential criminal charges. “In effect, three and a half years were lost, a timeframe during which John Smyth could have faced justice and any ongoing abuse he was committing in South Africa could have been identified and halted,” the report stated.
It was not until a 2017 investigation by Channel 4 that the extent of Smyth’s abuse surfaced publicly, prompting Hampshire Police to initiate their investigation. At the time of his death, police were preparing to question Smyth, with extradition measures in place.