Following the Church of England’s update on 28 April 2022, we have indexed the posts on L&RUK and elsewhere which have followed the timeline of events since 2017 [*].

2024

Continuing fall-out from the Makin Review, On 28 November 2024, the Church Times ran the story After Makin: former Bishop of Durham among clergy asked to ‘step back’ from ministry; this stated that in the wake of publication of the Makin review, along with relevant dioceses, the Church’s National Safeguarding Team (NST), is currently now considering whether there is “any immediate safeguarding risk” posed by church officers, and if there is evidence to support any disciplinary processes.

On 23 November 2024, the Diocese of Leicester issued a further statement regarding retired clergy member the Revd John Woolmer and his Permission to Officiate (PTO), (23 November 2024). The Revd John Woolmer’s PTO was removed in 2022 pending consideration by the Diocesan Safeguarding Team; it was subsequently restored and he has “exercised a very limited ministry of preaching and teaching in his local church and was supervised regularly by his local incumbent with his PTO reviewed on an annual basis”, (1 December 2024).

Further fall-out from the Makin Review, On Friday (22 November), the Religion Media Centre reported that the Diocese of London had announced that three priests named in the Makin Review have had their Permission to Officiate withdrawn pending investigation. One of the three has also had his PTO withdrawn by the Diocese of Gloucester. (24 November 2024).

The Archbishop and the Makin Review, On 7 November 2024, Channel 4 News bounced the Church of England into publishing an early release of the independent review led by Keith Makin in advance of its scheduled release on 13 November. In a statement issued by Lambeth Palace at 2 pm on Tuesday 12 November, Archbishop Welby said: “I believe that stepping aside is in the best interests of the Church of England”. The exact timing of his resignation will be decided once a review of necessary constitutional and Church obligations has been completed, including those in England and in the Anglican Communion. Whilst the Makin Review was the trigger for recent events, its focus is necessarily prospective and indicates the actions which should be taken by the Church. (17 November 2024).

Sir Jamie Colman and the Revd Sue Colman to “step back” after Makin Report, The Makin Review concluded: “It is likely, on the balance of probabilities, that both Jamie and Sue Colman had significant knowledge of the abuses in the UK and Africa, given their positions as trustees.” In a statement following the publication of the Makin Review, the Diocese of Winchester has asked Lady Colman, an associate minister at St Leonard’s Church, Oakley, to step back from all ministerial duties while it reflects on the review’s findings and works with the National Safeguarding Team to take steps to manage any associated risk, (17 November 2024).

“Safeguarding Sunday” – A letter from the Lead Bishop, The Rt Rev Joanne Grenfell, Bishop of Stepney and Lead Bishop for Safeguarding, has issued a pastoral letter in anticipation of Safeguarding Sunday, 17 November 2024, (16 November 2024).

Makin Review, Summary of Recommendations, The 253-page Review includes eight Key Recommendations [Review paragraph numbers in black] and twenty seven Specific Recommendations directed at particular concerns [numbered in blue] (13 November 2024).

Statement from the Archbishop of Canterbury, The statement issued by the Archbishop of Canterbury following announcing his resignation, and the response by The Archbishop of York, (12 November 2024).

“Safeguarding Sunday”, This annual event, coordinated by the charity Thirtyone:eight to raise awareness of safeguarding issues, (10 November 2024).

Smyth Independent Review publication, The Church of England issued: a Press Release, Independent review into Church’s handling of Smyth case published;  a copy of the full Review; its 29 Appendices; and a separate statement from the Archbishop of Canterbury. (10 November 2024).

Makin review of Smyth case published and statement issued on behalf of a number of victims and survivors of John Smyth QC, (7 November 2024).

Publication of Smyth independent review: The report will be published in full on Wednesday13 November 2024, (22 October 2024).

John Smyth Review – a further update: Start of “Maxwellization” delayed due to “a substantial change to a contribution to the review, at the final stages of completion”, (14 May 2024).

Update to Smyth Review: On 17 January 2024, the Church of England released a Press Release giving an update on the Smyth Review; this is reproduced in full in the post, (17 January 2024).

2023

Smyth case: update from independent reviewer, L&RUK weekly round-up, (17 June 2023).

Smyth case: update from independent reviewer, (15 June 2023).

Safeguarding: statement by the independent reviewer in the Smyth case, The Church of England has published a further statement from the independent reviewer in the Smyth case which indicated a further delay. (18 April 2023).

2022

Smyth Review – further update, On 13 December 2022, the Church of England posted an update on the Smyth Review. (13 December 2022).

Smyth Review update, Yet another update from the Church of England, stating “[t]here will be further updates when more precise timings are known”. (28 April 2022).

2021

Law and religion round-up – 1st August, Church of England: Update on Smyth Review, An update on timing for the Smyth Review from the National Safeguarding Team. (1 August 2021).

Law and religion round-up – 28th February, John Smyth Review, (28 February 2021).

Lord Carey’s PTO reinstated. Statement from Lord Carey on reinstatement of his PTO by the Bishop of Oxford, (25 January 2021).

2020

Archbishop of Canterbury: safeguarding update, On 12 November, the Church of England published an update on safeguarding complaint against the Archbishop of Canterbury. (12 November 2020).

Law and religion round-up – 3rd May, (4 May 2020). Titus Trust resigns on 9 April, six days after the Trust announced that it had reached a financial settlement with three of John Smyth’s victims.

Vicarious Liability, Law and religion round-up – 5th April, (5 April 2020). Judgment WM Morrison Supermarkets plc v Various Claimants [2020] UKSC 12, and statement by Titus Trust on reaching a settlement with three men “who have suffered for many years because of the appalling abuse of John Smyth”.

Peter Ball – the on-going legacy, (19 January 2020).

2019

Review: Jonathan Fletcher and Emmanuel Church Wimbledon, (5 December 2019). Announcement on 5 December 2019 by Thirtyone:eight that it had been commissioned by Emmanuel Church, Wimbledon to undertake an independent lessons learnt review concerning Jonathan Fletcher and Emmanuel Church.

Safeguarding in the Church of England, Law and religion round-up 24 November 2019. Scripture Union declined to participate in the Review and The Titus Trust stated that it is restricted in its participation in the review by ongoing legal action and it is not able to engage in the Review until this has been resolved. (24 November 2019).

Church of England commissions review into Smyth case, Law and religion round-up 17 August 2019, including Terms of Reference. Makin Review commissioned on 13 August 2019. (17 August 2019).

Quick Links, Law and religion round-up 21 April 2019. Some links on safeguarding (scroll down) (21 April 2019).

Law & Religion 2018 and 2019: retrospect and prospect, Coverage of IICSA hearing on Peter Ball (3 January 2019).

2018

Peter Ball – legislation, then and now (III), What next after the IICSA Peter Ball Inquiry? (21 August 2018).

And finally… Law and religion round-up – 19th August. Comment from Andrew Brown in Church Times on the sincerity, or otherwise, of the phrase “Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the news of John Smyth’s death”. (19 August 2018).

2017

Nasty goings-on at Iwerne holiday camp, Weekly round-up on “Brexit yet again, child abuse, abortion, deposition from Orders – the usual mix…” . (5 February 2017).

Church statement: safeguarding at Iwerne Trust, Statements from the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Titus Trust. (2 February 2017).

Other reports &c

New information, passed on to police, delays Makin review of John Smyth case, Church Times article, with links to other material, following statement from Church of England on 18 April 2023, supra. (18 April 2023).

Charity Commission asked to investigate Church of England safeguarding. An open letter has been sent to the Charity Commission asking it to investigate the Church of England’s safeguarding practices. The 51 signatories include lay and ordained church members, survivors, and some elected members of General Synod. Thinking Anglicans/Church Times. (15 December 2022).

Early material includes: Coltart Report on John Smyth, (1982); and the Investigative Report on John Smyth, (2017).

[*] Last updated, 28 November 2024 at 16:41.