LONDON – In his Christmas sermon at York Minster on Wednesday, Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, the Church of England’s second most senior cleric, is set to call for repentance and transformation within the institution as it grapples with the fallout from child abuse scandals.
The Church has been shaken by the resignation of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, following allegations he failed to act against prolific abuser John Smyth. Cottrell, now leading the Church until Welby’s successor is appointed, also faces accusations over his handling of safeguarding failures during his tenure as Bishop of Chelmsford.
“The Church of England…needs to come to the manger and strip off her finery, kneel in penitence, and be changed,” Cottrell will say, urging the Church to confront its failings.
Drawing on the Christmas story, he will add: “At the center of the Christmas story is a vulnerable child…in this vulnerable child, we see God. The Church must recognize this vulnerability and embrace the power of love.”
Welby, who officially steps down on Jan. 6, will not deliver the traditional Christmas sermon at Canterbury Cathedral this year, as the Church’s global community of 85 million Anglicans watches closely. The process to appoint his successor could take up to six months.
Cottrell himself is under fire after reports revealed he allowed priest David Tudor to remain in his role despite knowing Tudor was barred from unsupervised contact with children. While Cottrell apologized for the “intolerable” circumstances he inherited, critics argue his actions further undermined the Church’s safeguarding efforts.
The scandals have ignited public outrage, with many calling for comprehensive reforms. David Greenwood, a lawyer specializing in abuse cases, said the Church’s repeated failures have “shaken trust in its ability to protect congregants and uphold its duty of care.”
As the Church of England celebrates Christmas this year, it faces an urgent need for reflection, repentance, and meaningful change to heal both its congregation and public trust.