Justin Welby apologises to victims of John Smyth for abuse done via a ‘perverted version of spirituality and evangelicalism’

The Archbishop of Canterbury has apologised to the victims of John Smyth, saying “it is clear a number of Christians, clergy and lay, were made aware of the abuse in the 1980s.”

Following a recent meeting with survivors of the abuse carried out by John Smyth, Most Rev Justin Welby made a statement saying he is sorry it has taken so long to meet them and that the abuse was done in the guise of evangelicalism.

John Smyth was an evangelical Anglican who was Chairman of the Iwerne Trust, which ran summer camps for private school pupils between 1974-81, as well as being a trustee of Scripture Union from 1971 to 1979.

Mr Smyth was accused of beating boys and was confronted by members of the Iwerne Trust board with allegations of serious physical abuse. Evidence suggests that after an internal investigation in 1982 he was encouraged to work abroad. He moved to Zimbabwe where more allegations of abuse arose.