THE Archbishop of Canterbury did the “right and honourable thing” by choosing to resign, the Archbishop of York said on Tuesday afternoon.

Archbishop Cottrell released a statement saying that Archbishop Welby had “decided to take his share of responsibility for the failures identified by the Makin review”.

He said: “I believe this is the right and honourable thing to do.

“Whilst this is a difficult day for Justin, I pray there will be an opportunity to reflect on and appreciate the many positive aspects of his ministry and his huge commitment to the Church of England, the Anglican Communion and above all the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Archbishop Cottrell said that “greater independence of safeguarding” was needed to ensure that the failings detailed in the Makin report never happened again.

The General Synod is due to consider plans for the future of the C of E’s safeguarding processes in February next year (News, 8 July).

Archbishop Cottrell also paid tribute to the victims and survivors of Smyth’s abuse, thanking them for their courage. “They were badly let down by many in different parts of the Church of England,” he said.

The Church’s lead bishop for safeguarding, the Bishop of Stepney, Dr Joanne Grenfell, said on Tuesday that she understood and respected Archbishop Welby’s decision to resign. “Although Archbishop Justin has helped the Church of England to achieve much in relation to safeguarding during his tenure, because of the failings identified in the Makin Report, it is now necessary for others to take up the baton.”

Dr Grenfell said that she had “greatly valued” the Archbishop’s “personal commitment to good safeguarding and his desire to see the whole Church make this a priority”.

The Bishop of London, the Rt Revd Sarah Mullally, also commented on Tuesday afternoon, saying that Archbishop Welby’s decision provided “the urgent impetus we need to change the face of safeguarding in the Church of England”.

His departure, she said, “creates the necessary space” to bring about change.

“We need a genuinely survivor-focused approach, with independent scrutiny and mandatory reporting at its heart. From this moment, the Church must drive fundamental safeguarding reform.”

Bishop Mullally credited Archbishop Welby for his role in passing the legislation to allow women bishops in the Church, and said that his “focus on prayer and mission” would “leave a lasting legacy”.

“However, today it is the survivors of abuse who must be at the forefront of our thoughts and prayers,” she concluded.

A joint statement by the Bishop of Sheffield, Dr Pete Wilcox, and his suffragan, the Bishop of Doncaster, the Rt Revd Sophie Jelley, said that they acknowledged “with a heavy heart” the resignation of Archbishop Welby.

They assured survivors of their thoughts and prayers, and said: “Let us join together in prayer for all who have been harmed, for the Archbishop who has made the right decision today, and for our Church as we work towards a future that reflects Christ’s love, justice, and mercy.”

More reaction came from the bishops in the diocese of Exeter: the diocesan, Dr Mike Harrison, and the suffragan Bishops of Crediton and Plymouth, the Rt Revd Jackie Searle and the Rt Revd James Grier.

“As bishops, we are committed to creating a safe and healthy culture for all in our churches and church schools, where power is not abused, crimes are not hidden, people feel able to speak-up, victims are heard, and action is taken,” they said in a joint statement.

They thanked Archbishop Welby “for his ministry, mission and leadership”, and said that they were praying for him and his family.

In an ad clerum to his diocese, the Bishop of Chester, the Rt Revd Mark Tanner, wrote that he had been listening to the media coverage “with all manner of mixed feelings, mainly grief over the failings of our church”. There was “no place for cover-up or complicity with abuse in any part of society, least of all in the church”, he wrote.

He concluded the letter: “I want to express gratitude for the good things that Archbishop Justin has done in this role.”

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