Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury and spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, has resigned following an investigation that determined he delayed reporting cases of physical and sexual abuse committed by a volunteer at Christian summer camps. The investigation revealed Welby had not promptly informed authorities about the abuses upon discovering them, sparking public outrage and calls for his resignation.

The findings intensified scrutiny on Welby, especially among members of the General Synod, the Church of England’s governing body, with some clergy members and parishioners arguing that he had “lost the confidence of his clergy.” A petition launched by church members asserted that Welby’s actions had compromised his position, while Helen-Ann Hartley, the Bishop of Newcastle, described his role as “untenable” in light of recent events.

In his resignation statement, Welby said, “Having sought the gracious permission of His Majesty The King, I have decided to resign… I believe that stepping aside is in the best interests of the Church of England, which I dearly love and have been honored to serve.”

The strongest criticism came from survivors of abuse by John Smyth, a high-profile lawyer who inflicted abuse on teenage boys and young men at Christian camps across Britain, Zimbabwe, and South Africa over five decades. Andrew Morse, one of Smyth’s victims, welcomed Welby’s resignation as an initial step toward reconciliation and accountability, stressing the need for the Church to address past failures.