So, let’s break down this massive news: Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury just resigned, and the drama is real. His exit is a huge deal because he’s the top Anglican leader, like the main guy in the Church of England. This resignation is historic—not just because he’s the first to step down in centuries—but because it’s all tied to the Church’s massive, long-running abuse scandal that’s finally come to a head.
Here’s the backstory: For years, the Anglican Church has been criticized over how it handled (or rather, didn’t handle) abuse cases. We’re talking big investigations, like the 2019 Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) in England and Wales, which totally called out the Church for “failing to prioritize victims” and for repeatedly covering things up to “protect its image.” The IICSA was crystal clear—abuse was not addressed adequately, and victims were often ignored. The findings were pretty devastating, showing how high-ranking leaders sometimes did more to protect abusers than support victims.
Welby, since taking over in 2013, tried to clean things up. He even ordered a huge review called the Past Cases Review, where they went back and dug into old abuse cases to see what went wrong. Welby issued multiple public apologies and launched some new policies to make things safer, but honestly, for a lot of survivors, it felt like way too little, way too late. Survivors kept coming forward, saying they felt totally abandoned and unheard. People like Phil Johnson, who’s been really vocal as an abuse survivor, pointed out that “real accountability has been missing.” He argued that while the Church talked a big game about reform, the actual changes were, like, barely there.
Then there was Dr. Gilo, another survivor who worked with the Church to improve things. He flat-out said that the Church’s response “repeatedly failed victims.” Survivors weren’t just upset with how cases were handled but also with the way different parts of the Church would respond inconsistently, depending on who was in charge locally. The system wasn’t just broken—it was all over the place.
On top of all that, Welby’s leadership style rubbed some people the wrong way. Sam Margrave, a General Synod member, accused him of compromising traditional values to stay popular. And, with all this criticism coming from multiple sides, the pressure was building up.
So, Welby’s resignation is more than just a job change—it could mean a major pivot for the Church. Experts are saying this could finally push the Anglican Church to face up to its past. Church historian Dr. Diarmaid MacCulloch called it a “pivotal moment” that could shift the Church’s priorities and make it a place where people feel genuinely safe and heard. Bishop Helen-Ann Hartley echoed that, saying there’s now an opportunity to revamp the Church’s safeguarding policies.
For the Church, this isn’t just about its reputation; it’s about reconnecting with a community that feels disillusioned. Attendance has been on the decline, and trust in the institution is shaky at best. Welby’s resignation might just be the wake-up call the Church needs, but rebuilding trust is going to take way more than words—it’s going to need real, consistent action, and experts say that whoever replaces him will have their hands full.
XOXO,
Valley Girl News
