The head of the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has resigned as the church faces a series of sexual abuse allegations. A 253-page report found that Welby had failed to inform the proper authorities after he became aware of sexual and physical abuse allegations against a camp volunteer. A 2017 documentary alleged that camp volunteer John Smyth had physically and sexually abused teenage boys during his tenure at the camp in the 70s and 80s. According to the recently-released report, Smyth abused over 100 boys and men over a period of five decades. “Several of the victims’ accounts indicate their experience of sexual abuse, particularly describing John Smyth kissing them, draping himself and/or his arms over them, nakedness and other indicators of sexual abuse,” the report stated. There are also allegations of Smyth beating the boys in a shed. Smyth died in 2018.

Welby had long insisted he’d had no prior knowledge of the abuses until 2013, despite his connection to the camp as a dormitory officer during the time Smyth was there. Investigations have led to some believing Welby was aware of the abuse at the time that it occurred, with records showing he had been at the camp during the period of abuse. An open letter from the Telegraph by one of Smyth’s alleged victims labeled Welby an “observer” of the abuse.

Welby had initially refused to resign, stating he thought the police had been notified. But growing pressure within his own churches forced his hand. Stating he had received approval for his resignation from King Charles III, who is the official head of the Church of England, Welby outlined his reasons for resigning while maintaining he knew nothing of the allegations against Smyth until 2013. “The Makin Review has exposed the long-maintained conspiracy of silence about the heinous abuses of John Smyth,” he wrote. “When I was informed in 2013 and told that police had been notified, I believed wrongly that an appropriate resolution would follow. It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatising period between 2013 and 2024. It is my duty to honour my Constitutional and church responsibilities, so exact timings will be decided once a review of necessary obligations has been completed, including those in England and in the Anglican Communion.” The 16-member Crown Nominations Commission will be in charge of nominating candidates to replace Welby. After selecting a preferred candidate and alternate, the Commission will send the names to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who will advise King Charles III on who should be the next Archbishop. Martyn Snow, the bishop of Leicester, Graham Usher, the Bishop of Norwich, and Guli Francis-Dehqani, the Bishop of Chelmsford remain possibilities to fill the position.