LONDON: The new leader of the Anglican Church urged the Church of England to “kneel in penitence” during his Christmas sermon, as the institution grapples with the fallout from ongoing sexual abuse scandals.
The festive period has been overshadowed by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby’s resignation over a cover-up and criticisms of further safeguarding lapses by his deputy, Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell.
The Church, with 16,000 congregations in England and 85 million followers worldwide, has been rocked by reports of abuse, including the failure to address the actions of serial abuser John Smyth. Welby resigned in November following a report revealing his inaction, leaving Cottrell to deliver the main Christmas message.
In his sermon, Cottrell called on the Church to reflect on its failures and embrace a spirit of humility and change, likening the story of the vulnerable Christ child to the institution’s need for transformation. He emphasized the need for action, saying, “Don’t just talk about justice, love, and service—show it.”
Cottrell himself has faced calls for resignation due to his role in allowing an abuser to continue in the ministry for years. He acknowledged the Church’s failings and urged it to come together in penitence and genuine change.
The search for a new Archbishop of Canterbury is set to take up to six months, with Welby expected to fulfill his duties until January 6.
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