Justin Welby officially stepped down as Archbishop of Canterbury on Monday, marking the end of his tenure amid scrutiny over the Church of England's handling of the child sexual abuse scandal. An independent review found that Welby might have brought serial abuser John Smyth to justice had he reported him to police in 2013. In a symbolic act, Welby laid down his bishop's staff during an Evensong service.
Justin Welby has laid down his staff in his final act as The Archbishop of Canterbury after standing down over failures in handling the Church of England child sexual abuse scandal.
It is during the latter that he laid down his bishop's crozier - a ceremonial long staff - in a symbolic act which marked the official end of his ministry as Archbishop of Canterbury. Justin Welby has laid down his staff in his final act as The Archbishop of Canterbury after standing down over failures in handling the Church of England child sexual abuse scandalPictures show Mr Welby kneeling with the crozier in hand, and another with his head bowed, eyes closed and hands clasped in prayer after it had been set on the altar
From Tuesday, most of the official functions normally held by the Archbishop of Canterbury will be delegated to the Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell while some will go to the Bishop of London Dame Sarah Mullally, and the diocesan functions will be carried out by the Bishop of Dover Rose Hudson-Wilkin.
But Mr Cottrell has faced his own calls to resign over mishandling of safeguarding, after revelations that a priest at the centre of a sexual abuse case was twice re-appointed under him while he was serving as Bishop of Chelmsford. He has acknowledged things 'could have been handled differently' but, appearing to reject calls to quit, has pledged to 'do what I can' to bring about independent scrutiny of safeguarding in the Church.
RESIGNATION CHILD ABUSE CHURCH OF ENGLAND JUSTIN WELBY JOHN SMYTH
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