Sorry for abuse of boys at Christian club
WINCHESTER College has apologised for a ‘cult’like Christian club which allowed a powerful barrister to groom and abuse its pupils in the 1970s.
An independent investigation published yesterday found the evangelical society gave John Smyth QC ‘unfettered’ access to boys for his warped attacks.
Winchester, which charges £43,000 a year, was founded in 1382 and has educated a number of politicians.
The investigation, published on its website yesterday, says a Christian Forum which had ‘unfettered access’ at the school 50 years ago ‘showed signs of what would today be described as radicalisation’.
Smyth subjected pupils to beatings and abuse at his home that was sometimes ‘sexual in nature’, often under the pretence it was for religious purposes.
Then-head teacher John Thorn was informed of the abuse in 1982 but did not report it to police. In October 1982, Mr Thorn and two parents visited Smyth to get him to sign an undertaking to cut all ties with the school and seek psychiatric help. Mr Thorn wrote: ‘We have I feel rendered him pretty well harmless.’ Smyth moved to Zimbabwe, where he abused ‘as many as 90 boys, possibly resulting in the death of one’, the report said.
Winchester yesterday apologised ‘unreservedly’ for its part in the ‘terrible experiences’ of Smyth’s victims.
In a statement, it said: ‘The review... demonstrates in particular that John Smyth was able to infiltrate the college’s Christian community and gain access to the college’s pupils, providing him with the opportunity to groom and then abuse them.’
The review said multiple staff members were aware of Smyth’s ‘powerful influence’ over the boys. However, pupils felt unable to tell staff about the abuse and teachers did not share or report their suspicions.
Some families raised concerns about how Smyth appeared to have an unhealthy hold over the boys but many staff felt they could not tackle him.
Mr Thorn, now in his 90s, was unable to answer questions for the review. Smyth died in 2018.
Up to 100 pupils attended the college’s weekly Christian Forum in the 1970s and early 1980s, which was dominated by Smyth and had an ‘inner circle’ the review likened to a ‘cult’.
Boys were invited to Smyth’s home for Sunday lunch with his family, and some were subjected to brutal beatings in his shed.
One survivor said he received more than 1,000 strokes on one occasion. Two survivors later attempted suicide. Another said Smyth made him feel like part of an inner circle as he imposed a ‘code of loyalty and secrecy’.
Smyth also invited some Winchester boys to attend Christian summer camps, where he groomed them.
The reviewers said they were aware of 13 former Winchester college pupils abused by Smyth, but there was ‘likely’ more.
The Church of England has also commissioned a review of its handling of allegations made against Smyth, due this year.
Winchester has been contacted for comment. The Daily Mail was not able to contact Mr Thorn.