A church abuse survivor has urged the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, to step down, accusing the Church of England of failing to respond adequately to allegations of abuse.
Matthew Ineson, who suffered abuse in the 1980s at the hands of Vicar Trevor Devamanikkam, claims senior clergy, including former Archbishop of York John Sentamu, ignored his disclosures made in 2013.
An independent review conducted by the Church of England’s National Safeguarding Team confirmed Ineson’s abuse and found that the church had mishandled his case. Despite being charged with six sexual offenses, Devamanikkam took his own life in 2017 before his trial.
Ineson has been vocal in his criticism of Archbishop Cottrell, particularly after the archbishop supported the reinstatement of Lord Sentamu as a minister last October. He argues that such actions disregard the gravity of survivors’ experiences and undermine efforts to hold church leaders accountable.
“The lack of accountability for those who failed to act is devastating for survivors and diminishes trust in the church,” Ineson stated. He believes Cottrell’s resignation would signal a commitment to accountability.
In response, Archbishop Cottrell’s office reiterated his dedication to engaging with survivors and apologised for any deficiencies in the church’s handling of abuse cases. Additionally, Bishop Glyn Webster, whom Ineson had also named, issued an apology for any distress caused by his interactions with Ineson.
The case underscores ongoing challenges in addressing historical abuse within the church and its impact on survivors.
