Abuse scandal | Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby resigns as ministers employed by CofE demand 'complete culture change'

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has resigned amid widespread criticism for his failures to act on a sexual abuse scandal at the Church of England.

Welby has been under pressure after an independent report revealed the Church of England covered up the abuse of over 100 children and young men by British barrister John Smyth QC.

The review found Smyth might have been brought to justice a decade ago – prior to his death in 2018 – had Wellby formally alerted the police.

Over 5,000 members of the General Synod, the Church of England’s parliament, had signed a petition calling for the Archbishop to stand down.