The Archbishop of Canterbury and spiritual leader of the Anglican Church worldwide, Justin Welby, has resigned days after a report exposed his failure to take action and investigate claims of “abhorrent” physical and sexual abuse within the church.

Mr Welby on Tuesday said he was resigning “in sorrow” and felt a “profound sense of shame” for his inaction to seek justice for the abused victims who had come to the church in search of succour.

Mr Welby said on Tuesday, “The last few days have renewed my long felt and profound sense of shame at the historic safeguarding failures of the Church of England. I hope this decision makes clear how seriously the Church of England understands the need for change and our profound commitment to creating a safer church. As I step down I do so in sorrow with all victims and survivors of abuse.”

Mr Welby’s decades-old archbishop tenure has been controversial with many accusing him of pandering to the LGBTQ community after he endorsed the marriage of same-sex couples and initiated plans for church priests to bless them. He, however, extricated himself from joining the gays. He approved the ordination of women as bishops stirring discord about the church’s doctrines and aging beliefs.  

But the independent Makin report was the final nail in the coffin that triggered Mr Welby’s resignation. The report detailed how John Smith subjected over 100 boys to physical and sexual abuse.

In some instances, Mr Smith gave them 800 strokes of the cane and nappies to soak and hide the blood from the injuries. In others, he kissed and molested them against their will over four decades.  

Mr Smith was a British lawyer who chaired the Iwerne Trust, a major sponsor of Christian camps in England’s Dorset where Mr Welby served as a dormitory officer before his ordination.

In 2018, he died in Cape Town, South Africa at 75 and was “never brought to justice for the abuse,” the Makin Report stated.

“The review concludes that Smith is arguably the most prolific serial abuser to be associated with the Church of England,” the report added. “We know that no words can undo the damage done to people’s lives both by him and by the failure of individuals in the Church and other institutions to respond well.”

The report sparked calls for Mr Welby’s resignation, asserting it was untenable for him to hold the position after failing to report the abuse to authorities when he became aware of the allegations.

Mr Welby oversaw the funeral for Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey and the coronation of King Charles III in 2023.