by Martin Sewell, from Anglican Ink
To: Marsha De Cordova MP, Second Estates Commission, House of Commons.
Dr. Helen Earner, Senior Director, Charity Commission, London.
Richard Moriarty, Financial Reporting Council, London.
cc: Archbishops’ Council (AC), General Synod Members (GSM), National Safeguarding Team (NST) of the Church of England (CofE), London.
22nd May 2025
Dear Marsha, Helen and Richard,
I write as a member of the General Synod of the Church of England who has taken a special interest in the injustices of victims of abuse at the hands of the Church of England (CofE). I have been a primary advocate for their grievances, and I believe I enjoy a significant degree of trust in articulating their concerns to which I have listened with care and respect.
In this letter I raise matters of widespread disquiet not only of victims but also of a significant number of Synod members in relation to the financing and functioning of CofE safeguarding operations. Ordinarily such a letter would be directed to the trustees (Archbishops’ Council – AC) of the national structures as the responsible body. However, all trust and confidence in the governance of the CofE – whether General Synod (GS), the NST or AC – is broken. We have seen that when serious issues of probity and legal process are raised, together with fiscal accountability and proper transparency, the issues are sidestepped or covered up.
There is now cogent evidence to believe that examples of legal and fiscal malpractice have occurred and have not been properly addressed. So, on behalf of seriously concerned parties I now ask that, as a matter of urgency, you formally initiate investigation of these concerns. In summary, the primary concerns are as follows: