The Church of England is grappling with a turbulent Christmas season as Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby’s resignation has brought renewed scrutiny to the institution’s handling of safeguarding failures.
His departure in November followed revelations of his inadequate response to prolific sex abuser John Smyth. Accusations have also been leveled against his second-in-command, Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, regarding past decisions involving a barred priest.
In his Christmas sermon at York Minster, Cottrell is set to emphasize the Church’s need for repentance and renewal. “Right now, this Christmas, God’s Church itself needs to come to the manger and strip off her finery and kneel in penitence and adoration. And be changed,” he will say, according to excerpts released by his office.
The Church of England, which oversees 16,000 churches in England and is the mother church for 85 million Anglicans globally, has seen public trust erode as it confronts these controversies. While Welby will not deliver the main Christmas sermon at Canterbury Cathedral, his successor is expected to be chosen within six months, with Cottrell leading the Church in the interim.
Cottrell’s past actions are under fire following a BBC report revealing he allowed a priest, David Tudor, to continue serving despite restrictions due to allegations of abuse. Cottrell has apologized, stating the situation he inherited as Bishop of Chelmsford was “horrible and intolerable” and that he acted as soon as possible to suspend Tudor.
Public criticism has been intense, reflecting broader disillusionment with the Church. David Greenwood, a lawyer specializing in abuse claims, remarked that the scandals had “shaken trust in the Church’s ability to protect its congregants and uphold its duty of care.”
In his sermon, Cottrell will reflect on the meaning of Christmas and the vulnerability of Christ’s birth, urging the Church to embody humility. “The Church of England – the Church of England I love and serve – needs to look at this vulnerable child, at this emptying out of power to demonstrate the power of love, for in this vulnerable child we see God,” he will say.
With diminishing church attendance and growing public skepticism, this Christmas marks a critical juncture for the Church of England.
