Church covered up ‘abhorrent’ abuse, report finds

A British barrister’s “horrific” and violent abuse of more than 100 children and young men was covered up within the Church of England for decades, according to the conclusion of a damning report.

John Smyth QC is believed to be the most prolific serial abuser to be associated with the Church of England, a long-awaited independent review found.

Smyth QC, who died aged 77 in Cape Town in 2018, was accused of attacking boys at his Winchester home who he had met at a Christian summer camp in Dorset during the 1970s and 1980s.

On publication of the findings, the Archbishop of Canterbury apologised again to victims, and said Smyth’s abuse had “manipulated Christian truth to justify his evil acts”.

Smyth had also worked as a barrister representing morality campaigner Mary Whitehouse whilst he ran the camps for young evangelical Christians.

Reports of his physical abuse of boys were revealed in an investigation by Channel 4 News, external, in February 2017.

The investigation came after a report by the Iwerne Trust in 1982, which was not made public until 2016.

Smyth was confronted about his conduct after the report compiled by Rev Mark Ruston and Rev David Fletcher.

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