UPDATE - UK's top cleric resigns following report into sexual abuse of children at Church of England

ADDS MORE DETAILS

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, announced his resignation on Tuesday after a report found the Church of England had failed to adequately address abuses by a barrister.

Welby's decision comes after the independent Makin Review into Barrister John Smyth's abuse of children and young men was published last week, spurring growing pressure on the archbishop.

"Having sought the gracious permission of His Majesty The King (Charles), I have decided to resign as Archbishop of Canterbury. The Makin Review has exposed the long-maintained conspiracy of silence about the heinous abuses of John Smyth," Welby, 68, said in a statement.

In 2013 when he was informed and told that police had been notified, Welby said he "believed wrongly" that an appropriate resolution would follow.

"It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatising period between 2013 and 2024," he added.

Smyth’s actions, described in the report as "prolific, brutal, and horrific,” took place in the UK and later in Zimbabwe and South Africa.

The report by Keith Makin accuses senior leaders within the Church of England of a cover-up, further spotlighting Welby’s role and knowledge of the events.

Following the report’s release, last week he insisted that after giving it "a lot of thought,” he would not step down.

In his resignation statement, Welby also said he hopes this decision "makes clear how seriously the Church of England understands the need for change and our profound commitment to creating a safer church."

"As I step down I do so in sorrow with all victims and survivors of abuse," he added.

Saying that the last few days have renewed his long felt and "profound sense of shame" at the historic safeguarding failures of the Church of England, adding that for nearly 12 years he has struggled to introduce improvements.

"I believe that stepping aside is in the best interests of the Church of England, which I dearly love and which I have been honoured to serve," added Welby.