How the Church of England Covered Up John Smyth's Horrific Abuses at Summer Camps

[Social Media]

 

An independent review has exposed that the Church of England concealed “horrific” abuses committed by John Smyth, a lawyer and church volunteer, who inflicted physical, sexual, psychological, and spiritual abuse on children and young adults at Christian summer camps during the 1970s and 1980s. Despite learning of these abuses in 2013, the ceremonial head of the Anglican Communion failed to report Smyth’s actions to authorities, allowing the abuse to remain hidden until much later.

 

The review, released on Thursday, details the findings in a 251-page report commissioned by the church. Smyth, who died in South Africa in 2018, is considered the most prolific serial abuser ever linked to the church. Over five decades, he targeted approximately 30 boys and young men in the United Kingdom and around 85 in Africa. According to Keith Makin, who led the review, “Many of the victims who took the brave decision to speak to us about what they experienced have carried this abuse silently for more than 40 years.” Makin further criticized the church, saying, “Despite the efforts of some individuals to bring the abuse to the attention of authorities, the responses by the Church of England and others were wholly ineffective and amounted to a coverup.”

 

Smyth’s role as a volunteer leader at the Iwerne camps—a series of Christian camps associated with the Church of England and intended to train young men from prestigious schools for future leadership—gave him access to vulnerable young people. He used his position to manipulate campers, punishing them for what he defined as “sins” such as “pride,” making sexual remarks, masturbation, or, in one instance, simply looking at a girl for too long. According to the report, these punishments involved violent beatings in which both Smyth and his victims were often partly or fully naked.

 

The report chillingly describes the extent of Smyth’s punishments, noting, “The scale and severity of the practice was horrific.” Instances included beatings of 100 strokes for masturbation, 400 for pride, and even one of 800 strokes for an unspecified “fall.” A minister secretly documented these abuses in 1982, yet no police report was ever filed. One church official, the late Rev. David Fletcher, defended his silence by saying, “I thought it would do the work of God immense damage if this were public.”

 

Smyth eventually left the United Kingdom, moving to Zimbabwe with his family, with the encouragement and financial assistance of church officials who knew of his abusive actions. The report condemned these officials, stating, “Church officers knew of the abuse and failed to take the steps necessary to prevent further abuse occurring.”

 

In 2013, another opportunity to report Smyth’s crimes emerged. Church leaders, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby—who himself had attended Iwerne camps and knew Smyth—were informed of the past abuse. However, as the report outlines, they chose not to alert authorities, missing a critical chance to prevent any further harm. Welby later acknowledged his personal failure to act, stating, “Nevertheless the review is clear that I personally failed to ensure that after disclosure in 2013 the awful tragedy was energetically investigated.”

 

Had the church reported Smyth at that time, the report suggests, law enforcement might have been able to bring him to justice. “In effect, three and a half years was lost, a time within which John Smyth could have been brought to justice and any abuse he was committing in South Africa discovered and stopped,” the report concludes.

 

Public awareness of Smyth’s abuses did not emerge until a 2017 Channel 4 investigation, which finally prompted Hampshire Police to launch an inquiry. Authorities had planned to question Smyth and were preparing for a possible extradition before his death later that year. The report underscores a painful truth: had action been taken earlier, many victims might have been spared years of suffering, and the church might have avoided the lasting stain of complicity in a tragedy it helped to conceal.

 

Based on a report by AP 2024-11-09

 

 

 

 

[LukKrueng]

What about the kids' parents? Didn't they know what happened to their kids? Didn't they do anything to stop him? I know what I would have done to anyone who'd physically "punish" my kids

[soalbundy]

So the Church authorities aren't being prosecuted for aiding and abetting?

[Briggsy]

2 hours ago, LukKrueng said:

What about the kids' parents? Didn't they know what happened to their kids? Didn't they do anything to stop him? I know what I would have done to anyone who'd physically "punish" my kids

It is very important to understand that the first rule of the child abuser / groomer is to make the victim feel utterly powerless, ashamed and guilty.

 

It is also very important to understand that as a result of the guilt, shame and powerlessness, the vast majority of victims do not tell anyone about their abuse for decades, least of all their parents. And the small minority that do try to tell somebody in authority at the time often find it extremely difficult to articulate clearly what happened. And if the very small minority who tell somebody are able to be clear, they are often dismissed or not believed.

 

This is why way over 90% of instances of child abuse are not uncovered until a very long time after, if ever.

 

When discussing child abuse, it is so important to bear this in mind. It is very very difficult for the victim to talk about it coherently or at all. It is not the same as walking down the street and somebody punches you in the face.

[jcmj]

The Catholic Church should be punished harshly and all of those who helped cover it up. This church organization is responsible for more child abuse than any other organization spanning decades. Disgusting behavior and cover ups. 

[James105]

On 11/9/2024 at 3:06 AM, Social Media said:

Welby later acknowledged his personal failure to act, stating, “Nevertheless the review is clear that I personally failed to ensure that after disclosure in 2013 the awful tragedy was energetically investigated.”

 

This man is a child abuse enabler and he had the gall to criticize the previous UK government for having the temerity to attempt to control the borders calling it 'against the judgement of God'.   Will he resign from his position in the church and the house of lords?  Of course he won't.   

[LukKrueng]

14 hours ago, Briggsy said:

It is very important to understand that the first rule of the child abuser / groomer is to make the victim feel utterly powerless, ashamed and guilty.

 

It is also very important to understand that as a result of the guilt, shame and powerlessness, the vast majority of victims do not tell anyone about their abuse for decades, least of all their parents. And the small minority that do try to tell somebody in authority at the time often find it extremely difficult to articulate clearly what happened. And if the very small minority who tell somebody are able to be clear, they are often dismissed or not believed.

 

This is why way over 90% of instances of child abuse are not uncovered until a very long time after, if ever.

 

When discussing child abuse, it is so important to bear this in mind. It is very very difficult for the victim to talk about it coherently or at all. It is not the same as walking down the street and somebody punches you in the face.

From the op:

Instances included beatings of 100 strokes for masturbation, 400 for pride, and even one of 800 strokes for an unspecified “fall".

 

Not something that a boy or a young adult can hide as I'd guess it leaves marks and probably makes sitting or moving difficult and painful

[LukKrueng]

17 minutes ago, jcmj said:

The Catholic Church should be punished harshly and all of those who helped cover it up. This church organization is responsible for more child abuse than any other organization spanning decades. Disgusting behavior and cover ups. 

You are right, of course, but this story is about the church of England, not the Catholic church

[herfiehandbag]

26 minutes ago, jcmj said:

The Catholic Church should be punished harshly and all of those who helped cover it up. This church organization is responsible for more child abuse than any other organization spanning decades. Disgusting behavior and cover ups. 

Umh, it is not the Catholic Church, it is the Church of England.

 

They broke from the Catholic Church some 480 years ago. You can tell the difference, they are the ones with the better frocks, and who are not so certain that they believe in God anymore!

[jchfriis]

On 11/9/2024 at 3:06 AM, Social Media said:

One church official, the late Rev. David Fletcher, defended his silence by saying, “I thought it would do the work of God immense damage if this were public.”

It's this kind of thinking that makes me an ateist.

[Purdey]

On 11/10/2024 at 8:35 AM, jcmj said:

The Catholic Church should be punished harshly and all of those who helped cover it up. This church organization is responsible for more child abuse than any other organization spanning decades. Disgusting behavior and cover ups. 

The Church of England is not Catholic (since Henry XIII set it up) but agree with you this was disgusting behavior by any religious institution,

[Purdey]

And... The Archbishop of Canterbury has resigned because of the case.

www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y5l7116g1o.amp

 

[James105]

5 hours ago, Purdey said:

And... The Archbishop of Canterbury has resigned because of the case.

www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y5l7116g1o.amp

 

 

Someone should really be checking his hard drive at this stage.   I don't care who it is, a best friend, a relative, an employee, whoever. If I knew with certainty of someone who was abusing children I would report them post haste to the law without a second thought.  If someone protects a child abuser then this is a giant red flag that needs investigating.