On 14 May 2024, the Church of England issued the Press Release Update – John Smyth review which is reproduced in full, below.

Update – John Smyth review

14/05/2024

Update from independent reviewer Keith Makin

I am aware of the ongoing impact that the delays in the publication of my report is having on all those affected by this review, particularly the victims and survivors. I would like to underline my apology and outline next steps which I hope will provide some reassurance. The review has now reached the stage where those individuals and organisations named and criticised in the report are to be sent the relevant extracts to permit them an opportunity to respond to the criticism.   

This stage is starting later than planned and later than we outlined in our statement at the start of the year. This was because there was a substantial change to a contribution to the review, at the final stages of completion. The consequence of this was the need to review and edit those parts of the review which drew upon this contribution.

Once this next stage is complete the final report will be handed to the Archbishops’ Council for publication.  This will be done as soon as practically possible, but we cannot give definitive dates until this stage of the process is completed.

Support

Both the reviewers and the Church recognise that giving information to this review has the potential to be re-traumatising for victims and survivors. While support has previously been offered the NST has now secured the service of a specialist advocacy service. FearFree Support provides specialist support to victims and survivors of abuse, offering trauma informed and victim led bespoke support. Its director of services has identified an experienced independent advocate for victims and survivors – Nina Tanner – to deliver this service and this information has been relayed to the survivors and victims.

Contacts

• Nina.Tanner@fearfree.org.uk/ 07825 741751
• There is an additional offer of therapeutic support for victims and survivors @ Homepage – Yellow Door. Yellow Door is an organisation that can offer evidence-based therapy to support victims and survivors of abuse and those that have experienced trauma. Contact Yellow Door confidentially at reviewsupport@yellowdoor.org.uk.

Note

• In March 2024, it was reported that a survivor known as “Graham” asked that data and his testimony to be removed from the review. He also expressed concerns on other aspects of the Review.
• Unconfirmed reports have indicated that the process of “Maxwellization” is anticipated to take three weeks.
• A timeline of reports &c relating to John Smyth, from 2017 to present, is in our post  John Smyth: A timeline. This also includes the Terms of Reference of the Makin Review.

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Updated 16 May 2024 at 08:26.