LONDON — The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who serves as the spiritual head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, is set to conclude his official responsibilities by early January in light of an ongoing abuse controversy surrounding the Church of England, his office confirmed on Wednesday.
Welby’s resignation came last week following an investigation that revealed he did not promptly notify law enforcement about a volunteer who had committed repeated physical and sexual abuse at Christian summer camps upon learning of the situation. His reluctance to acknowledge accountability for not reporting the incidents that took place in both England and Africa in 2013 has sparked widespread anger directed at the church’s leadership regarding their failure to ensure accountability. Although he admitted to making a mistake, his position ultimately became untenable due to the mounting pressure.
According to a statement from Lambeth Palace, Welby plans to finish his official responsibilities by January 6, coinciding with the Feast of the Epiphany. During the interim period, Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York and the Church of England’s second-highest bishop, will oversee church matters until a new permanent archbishop is appointed, a process that may take several months.
The statement from Lambeth Palace indicated, “Following the announcement last week of his resignation, Archbishop Justin intends to complete his official duties by the upcoming Feast of Epiphany. He anticipates minimal public engagements during this time, but he will fulfill a limited number of remaining commitments.”
The Archbishop of Canterbury holds a prominent role as the symbolic leader of the Anglican Communion, which boasts over 85 million adherents across 165 nations. While each national church operates its own leadership structure, the Archbishop of Canterbury is regarded as the foremost among peers.
Welby, who previously worked in the oil industry before transitioning to the priesthood in 1989, has been a polarizing figure even prior to the recent crisis. He faced challenges in bridging divides within the Anglican Communion, which has been deeply affected by contrasting opinions on matters such as LGBTQ+ rights and the role of women within the church.
Earlier this month, the Church of England disclosed the findings of an independent inquiry into the late John Smyth, a notable lawyer accused of sexually, psychologically, and physically abusing approximately 30 boys and young men in the United Kingdom and 85 in Africa from the 1970s until his death in 2018. The 251-page Makin Review revealed that Welby did not report Smyth to the authorities when he received information regarding the abuse, suggesting that timely action on his part could have prevented further abuses.