The Bishop of Newcastle, Rt Rev. Helen-Ann Hartley, has received commendation for her outspoken criticism of safeguarding lapses within the Church of England. Her advocacy for reforms has been described as “courageous” in an open letter from Professor Alexis Jay, former chair of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), and other advocates for survivors of abuse.
The letter, signed by 12 individuals including lawyers and survivors, emphasizes the need for the Church to implement independent safeguarding processes to protect children and vulnerable adults effectively. It also highlights the urgency of reforms in light of ongoing revelations about the mishandling of abuse cases within the Church.
Bishop Hartley has consistently called out the Church’s failings since the release of the Makin Review last month, which exposed abuse by the late Christian barrister John Smyth. Most recently, she urged the resignation of the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, after it was revealed he had allowed a known child abuser to continue ministerial duties in the Diocese of Chelmsford.
The letter praises Bishop Hartley’s determination, stating: “We support the Bishop of Newcastle’s efforts to highlight these failures and thank you for the courage it has taken. We hope more will follow your example, standing up to ensure the one million children in Church schools in the UK are safe.”
The ongoing crisis has placed immense pressure on Church leadership. The letter underscores the gravity of the situation, noting: “For the second time in two months, we are witnessing many calls for the resignation of an Archbishop. There has never been a voluntary resignation in the 900-year history of the Church, and now we are potentially facing two, both linked to failing to safeguard children and vulnerable adults.”
Professor Jay, who authored a report on the future of safeguarding in the Church at its request, pointed out that her recommendations for fully independent safeguarding mechanisms were rejected by the General Synod last year. Critics argue that these systemic failures highlight a reluctance to adopt measures that meet even secular standards of child protection.
With over 4,600 schools under the Church of England’s purview, the stakes remain high. Advocates and survivors are calling for radical changes to safeguard the vulnerable and restore trust in the institution. Bishop Hartley’s leadership, they argue, is a vital step toward achieving this goal.
