The review also notes, “We are aware that John Smyth abused boys and young men from a far wider group, involving other elite public schools and other universities [in addition to Winchester College and Cambridge University Colleges].”
Smyth never received justice for his alleged crimes. He died in 2018 in Cape Town, South Africa, at the age of 75. At the time of his death, he was under investigation by Hampshire Police. The Makin Review acknowledges that the number of Smyth’s victims, which include members of Smyth’s own family, is probably much higher than the numbers identified in the report.
“Evidence submitted to the Review suggests 30 boys and young men are known to have been directly physically and psychologically abused in the UK, many more were impacted by psychological abuse and attempts to abuse,” the report says. “Information available to this Review suggests in the order of 85 boys and young men were physically abused in African countries, including Zimbabwe…The total number of children and adults deeply affected by John Smyth’s abuses likely runs much higher.”
“John Smyth’s activities were identified in the 1980s. Despite considerable efforts by individuals to bring to the attention of relevant authorities the scope and horror of Smyth’s conduct,” the review continues, “including by victims and by some clergy, the steps taken by the Church of England and other organisations and individuals were ineffective and neither fully exposed nor prevented further abuse by him.”
Smyth relocated to Zimbabwe and then South Africa from 1984 to 2001. During that time period, “Church officers knew of the abuse and failed to take the steps necessary to prevent further abuse occurring.”
Welby was confirmed as Archbishop of Canterbury on Feb. 4, 2013. He had prior connections to Smyth, as well as some indications that Smyth was someone to be concerned about.
However, the report holds Welby culpable specifically for his lack of response when he learned in 2013 in his capacity as the Archbishop of Canterbury of abuse allegations against Smyth. The report also details multiple failures in Welby’s response after the BBC’s Channel 4 published an investigation in 2017 into the allegations against Smyth.
“There is a distinct lack of any clarity about police action,” says the report, referring to the allegations reported to church leaders in 2013. “Conversations and a meeting in person took place and written comments are made about the case being considered, but no formal decisions appear to have been taken or recorded in the information available to reviewers.”
The review holds responsible multiple church leaders who failed to act in 2013 after learning of serious allegations against Smyth. It seems that Welby was under the impression that a report had been made to police, although it never was. “The Archbishop of Canterbury was ill-advised about the actions taken in the Ely diocese,” says the review. “He was told that a referral had been made to the police. This was not correct.”
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