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The Resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury

The Rt Revd Michael Ipgrave, Bishop of Lichfield, has received the news of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s resignation this afternoon with sorrow, acknowledging that the Archbishop has acted honourably in resigning. He notes that Archbishop Justin’s ministry has been marked by the creation of a great movement of prayer: Thy Kingdom Come, by the founding of the St Anselm Community in which young people discover a life of service and, it must be said, an enormous step change in the church’s machinery for safeguarding. There have been many good things which merit recollection.

With his episcopal colleagues, the Bishop of Stafford, the Bishop of Shrewsbury, the Bishop of Wolverhampton and the Bishop of Oswestry, Bishop Michael asks that the people of the diocese respond to this news with prayer.

While giving thanks for the efforts that have made us a safer church than we once were, we must now re-commit to the change needed to create a yet safer church with a heightened and shared responsibility for safeguarding.

We unite in prayer for survivors of John Smyth’s abuse and for all survivors of abuse, for the Church of England and also for Archbishop Justin and his family.

The Archbishop’s statement can be read here.

Finding support

If you or anyone you are in contact with are affected by the publication of this report and want to talk to someone independently please call the Safe Spaces helpline on 0300 303 1056 or visit safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk.

Alternatively, you may wish to contact the diocesan safeguarding team or the National Safeguarding Team at safeguarding@churchofengland.org.

There are also other support services available.