Church of England weighs new watchdog to police abuse failures after Justin Welby resignation
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The general synod will meet in February following the fall-out from a child abuse inquiry that led to the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Church of England will vote next month on outsourcing policing of safeguarding issues to an independent watchdog, amid an ongoing fallout from an inquiry into historic allegations of abuse.
![[Former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/23/16/PA-70921000.jpg)
The General Synod, otherwise known as the Church’s parliament, will debate and vote on the changes in February, with the lead Bishop of Safeguarding admitting that the church had failed to act on, and then deliberately covered up, abuse. Synod, which includes Bishops, clergy, and church-goers, will sit for its first session since the resignation of the Archbishopof Canterbury Justin Welby last month over safeguarding failures.
Dr Welby stood down in November after a damning report exposed a “conspiracy of silence” about the abuse of children and young men perpetrated by barrister John Smyth. About 130 boys are believed to have been victims of Smyth, who died in 2018. When he was discovered, Smyth was allowed to move abroad with the knowledge of church officials, where he continued his abuse.
The Church of England has now proposed a new independent safeguarding approach to stop a cover-up happening again, with the first three days of Synod focussing on these issues. There are two options, which will be voted on in February. The first would see all safeguarding officers currently working in dioceses, cathedrals, and the national church transferred to work for a new independent organisation.
