Justin Welby's son breaks silence on former Archbishop of Canterbury's resignation following damning review into abuse

15 November 2024, 22:50 | Updated: 15 November 2024, 23:05

All Main Candidates For PM Address CBI Conference
The Archbishop of Canterbury's son Tim Welby has said his father was "right to resign" following damning review into abuser John Smyth. Picture: Getty

By Flaminia Luck

The Archbishop of Canterbury's son has said his father was "right to resign" following a damning review into the most prolific abuser associated with the Church of England, according to reports.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The independent Makin Review concluded that barrister John Smyth might have been brought to justice had the archbishop formally alerted authorities in 2013.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said on Tuesday that his decision to step down - which came after days of pressure following the report's publication - was in the best interests of the Church.

In a statement on Tuesday, he said: "When I was informed in 2013 and told that police had been notified, I believed wrongly that an appropriate resolution would follow.

"It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and re-traumatising period between 2013 and 2024."

Now, Mr Welby's son Tim has said his father was "right to resign" and his position "became untenable, simply because so many people were calling for his resignation", The Mirror reports.

Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury
Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury. Picture: Getty

Tim Welby told The Mirror: "He's definitely very embarrassed and appalled by what's happened.

"I know he's going to spend a lot of his time left in office having conversations with some of the people and trying to make sure that things are set up in the right way - so that kind of lapse cannot happen again.

"He's trying to meet with people who were the victims of Smyth but others as well. He will be doing a lot of that. That's going to be one of his primary focuses."

He said: "The frustrating thing is I don't think it ever occurred to him that it hadn't been reported to the police.

"When, as Archbishop, you are told that something has happened, it has usually gone through so many hands. It seemed utterly inconceivable that someone wouldn't have said to the police: 'This has been going on'.

"He is really, really cross that it didn't occur to him - to triple check that someone had actually done that. If you discover a crime then, of course, it gets reported. I wouldn't say he was naive so much.

"Certainly, if it had happened later on, he would have known what was going on and would have been more explicit."

He added: "It feels more like a political decision to resign where something's gone wrong in the office. The person at the top is always responsible. His position became untenable, simply because so many people were calling for his resignation."

Tim Welby said his father is "a good man and I love him a lot".

Barrister John Smyth is said to have subjected as many as 130 boys and young men in the UK and Africa to traumatic physical, sexual, psychological and spiritual attacks
Barrister John Smyth is said to have subjected as many as 130 boys and young men in the UK and Africa to traumatic physical, sexual, psychological and spiritual attacks. Picture: Video screen grab

He said: "Dad was right to resign - it was the correct decision. I'm so very proud of my dad for all he has done throughout his life and his work for the Church of England."

Tim Welby said: "He never actually sought to be Archbishop of Canterbury.

In fact, when the former Archbishop retired, all the Bishops were asked to write a CV and explain why they should get the job. But my father wrote a long list of reasons why he should not.

"So he was a little bit confused when he then got the job. He wasn't very keen to have the job in the first place. I think he has enjoyed the challenges of being the Archbishop of Canterbury.

"It's not positions that he cares about. No, no, he's always wanted to be where he felt God wanted him to be."

Read more: Met police officer sacked as three guilty of gross misconduct over accessing Sarah Everard murder files

Read more: FA launches investigation as England fans report 'heavy-handed policing and tear gas' before Greece clash

Across five decades in three different countries and involving as many as 130 boys and young men in the UK and Africa, John Smyth is said to have subjected his victims to traumatic physical, sexual, psychological and spiritual attacks, permanently marking their lives.

He died aged 77 in Cape Town in 2018 while under investigation by Hampshire Police, and was "never brought to justice for the abuse", the Makin Review said.

Tim Welby also told The Mirror that people like Smyth must get "weeded out".

He said: "If you have people who are that way inclined, you need to make sure that they get weeded out and that they aren't in the job in the first place, it's very hard."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Conor Maynard shared a health update after his fall

Singer Conor Maynard gives health update after being rushed to hospital on stretcher

Lisa Smith, 43, has been named by Kent Police as the victim of the shooting on Valentine's Day

Mother-of-two shot dead at pub on Valentines’ Day is named - as tributes paid to ‘wonderful mum’

Bafta winners

Conclave and The Brutalist win big at 2025 BAFTA awards - as absent Gascón nomination met with rousing applause

Jennifer Rauchet, Pete Hegest, US defence secretary, and Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, Minister of Defence of Poland, during a welcoming ceremony in Warsaw, Poland, on February 14, 2025.

Ukraine is the 'frontline' of Britain, Starmer says as US begins peace talks with Russia

A fire that engulfed luxury hotel Chiltern Firehouse reportedly started in a pizza oven.

Fire that engulfed celebrity haunt Chiltern Firehouse 'started in pizza oven' of luxury hotel

Julie Buckley, 54, has not been seen since late January when she went missing from the village of Christchurch, Cambridgeshire.

Man charged with murder in 'no-body' case after woman goes missing in Cambridgeshire

Exclusive
Trump is ‘shaking up our region’, says Israel's president.

Donald Trump is 'shaking up our region', says Israel's president as he 'reveals US leader's strategy' in Middle East

Exclusive
Israel must 'square the circle to get hostages out' as Israeli President labels 500 day wait 'tormenting, aching and painful’

Israel must 'square the circle to get hostages out' says President, labelling 500 day wait 'tormenting, aching and painful’

A teacher who was knocked down by a group of kids playing playground game British Bulldog says she was left with a severe leg injury that left her out of work for months.

Summer camp teacher claiming £300k in damages after group of kids knock her down in famous playground game

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in Saudi Arabia for peace talks with Russia as the war in Ukraine rages on.

US-Russia peace talks for Ukraine begin as Europe blocked out of Saudi Arabia meeting

Harry received a standing ovation at the closing ceremony.

Meghan's four-word response as Prince Harry receives standing ovation in emotional Invictus Games closing ceremony

Exclusive
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer (far right) visits the Tapa NATO forward operating base in Estonia.

Starmer should send 'warships, combat brigade, and air squadrons' to Ukraine, says ex-armed forces minister

Millions of jobs at risk as UK firms mull biggest layoffs in close to a decade amid plunging business confidence

Millions of jobs at risk as UK firms mull 'biggest layoffs in a decade' amid plunging business confidence

Wes Streeting says campaign to free Lucy Letby is 'not right'

'This isn't a political campaign, it's a legal process': Wes Streeting says campaign to free Lucy Letby is 'not right'

Exclusive
West Streeting, left, has back Sir Keir Starmer after the Prime Minister said he was ready to put British troops on the ground in Ukraine.

Peace in Ukraine 'vital for Britain's freedom', says Streeting as he backs PM's calls for troops on the ground

From Conclave to The Brutalist - the full 2025 BAFTA's winners list revealed

From Conclave to The Brutalist - the full 2025 BAFTA's winners list revealed