All John Smyth articles
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ReviewsSee No Evil: This Channel 4 documentary paints John Smyth’s family as his first victims
A new documentary on the Church of England’s most prolific abuser John Smyth includes exclusive interviews with his three children and the wife who stood by him til the end. It’s a harrowing tale of a psychopathic patriarch whose family lived in fear of him, says Tim Wyatt. But was his wife a victim - or should she have done more to stop him?
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OpinionAn FIEC church deacon has been jailed for child sex abuse. We must learn the lessons
Michael Toms was convicted on nine counts including rape and indecent assault of two girls. Having attended the sentencing hearing, Susie Leafe says his case reveals the same troubling dynamics of abuse seen across other church denominations
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Real Life‘Iwerne taught me how to fear God. It took years to learn how to love him’
A former participant in the notorious Iwerne camps reflects on the lasting damage of toxic and coercive theology and his path toward healing
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News AnalysisEvangelical activist or failed reformer? The triumphs and trials of Justin Welby
He brought down predatory payday lenders, turbocharged evangelism and even welcomed refugees to live with him at Lambeth Palace. But unresolved issues of sexuality and safeguarding dogged Welby throughout his tenure. Tim Wyatt looks at the highs and lows of Justin Welby’s time as Archbishop of Canterbury
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OpinionThe Children’s Society were wrong to cancel Welby - but I understand why they did
Refusing a donation from the Archbishop of Canterbury makes sense in our ’cancel culture’ society, says Miriam Cates. And until the CofE starts putting people above process, the problems will remain
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Opinion7 ways to make the Church a safer place for everyone
It will take more than Justin Welby’s resignation to prevent abuse in the Church, says Susie Leafe. We all need to play our part
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OpinionJustin Welby’s resignation is too little too late for victims of abuse
The Archbishop of Canterbury had to step down. But it’s what happens next that will decide the fate of the Church of England, says abuse survivor Samantha Smith
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OpinionChurch leaders knew about John Smyth’s child abuse. They covered it up
Andrew Graystone battled for decades to reveal the truth about serial abuser John Smyth. Now as a report confirms Smyth’s abuse was “prolific, brutal and horrific,” Andrew says church leaders must repent of their wilful blindness
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News AnalysisJustin Welby has resigned. What happened?
The Archbishop of Canterbury has resigned after a week of mounting pressure following a report into a prolific child abuser that accused the Church of England of a cover-up. Tim Wyatt takes us through the events that led to Justin Welby’s decision to step down
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OpinionPJ Smyth is a victim of trauma. He deserves our support, not our condemnation
PJ Smyth has been forced to step down as the leader of a US church movement affiliated to Newfrontiers, after a report concluded he did not disclose important information about his father’s abuses. But Andrew Graystone, who wrote a book on the John Smyth case, says PJ was his father’s first and most damaged victim.
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Reviews‘Bleeding for Jesus’ is a harrowing expose of John Smyth’s abuse. But the book’s conclusion is a theological mess
Andrew Graystone’s new book has been praised by Channel 4’s Cathy Newman for giving a "disturbing, devastating and damning account of abuser John Smyth.” But others are concerned the book has unnecessarily outed some of Smyth’s victims.
