The independent review by Keith Makin into how the Church of England handled allegations of serious abuse by the late John Smyth has been published. The full report is available here, along with links to further information. The Diocese of Bristol acknowledges the profound distress these findings may have, especially for survivors of abuse.
Following the publication of the report the Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, Bishop of Bristol said:
In my former national role as one of the bishops leading the Church of England’s safeguarding development, I became aware of the lengthy—and, as we now see, thorough—investigation by Keith Makin into the horrific abuse perpetrated by John Smyth.
The Makin report makes devastating reading, and I am deeply perturbed by the extensive abuse of children and young people, as well as the fact that the abuse was known to some over many years. I acknowledge with profound shame that the Church harboured this abuser and that, once the abuse became known, bishops failed to act to prevent further appalling harm. I apologise to those who have suffered and continue to suffer, and I remain committed to addressing these issues.
This is why we must all remain dedicated to the positive changes made in the Diocese of Bristol, especially at the parish level, where volunteers have worked tirelessly to foster the cultural changes needed to make our churches safer, prevent harm, and support those impacted by abuse. This vital, transformative work—led by the Parish Safeguarding Officers, churchwardens and many other dedicated volunteers across our parish communities—has been rigorously tested and commended in the recent independent audit.
For my part, I will continue working to ensure that anyone experiencing abuse feels safe to come forward, knowing they will be believed, supported, and that their concerns will be acted upon.
Finding support
The Diocese takes all allegations of abuse, in any form, extremely seriously. If you have been affected by this news or wish to discuss something confidentially, please know that support is available. To report a safeguarding issue, please contact the National Safeguarding Team at safeguarding@churchofengland.org or our safeguarding team at safeguarding@bristoldiocese.org.
Additional support services are available on the National Church website and the Diocese of Bristol’s Safeguarding page.