Church of England Safeguarding Review Calls for Removal of Senior Officers
An independent review by INEQE has criticized senior Church of England officials for blocking safeguarding reforms. Twenty individuals have formally asked the Archbishops to remove those named in the report. The review found that a small group used procedural tactics to resist change.
An independent safeguarding review has put the Church of England under fresh pressure, with investigators criticizing a small group of senior diocesan and national officers for resisting reform.
The INEQE review found that these officials maintained the status quo through what it called "procedural defensiveness," blocking changes that safeguarding advocates had pushed for years. In response, 20 individuals signed a formal letter to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, calling for the removal of those identified in the report.
The review comes amid ongoing scrutiny of how the Church handled historical abuse cases. A separate tribunal found that Canon Andrew Cornes failed to report a 1982 disclosure of abuse involving John Smyth. Cornes received a 12-month conditional discharge.
The Church of England has faced repeated criticism over its handling of abuse disclosures. Campaigners say the latest review confirms that institutional resistance, not just individual failures, has slowed progress on safeguarding.
Church leaders have not yet publicly responded to the call for removals. The Archbishops' office said it would review the findings carefully before making any decisions.
