Archbishop vows to end ‘narrative’ of Church cover-ups

THE NEW Archbishop of York has pledged to “change the narrative” of cover-ups and secrecy in the Church of England as he revealed his distress over the handling of domestic abuse allegations made against a parish priest a decade ago.

An investigation was launched into how Bishop Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York Elect, dealt with the allegations after concerns were raised with the Church’s National Safeguarding Team earlier this year.

Bishop Cottrell, who is due to be formally confirmed as the 98th Archbishop of York in a virtual service on Thursday next week, was cleared of any wrongdoing – but the investigation into the original allegations and how they were handled is still ongoing.

He told The Yorkshire Post he “wanted to go public” about the allegations in order to be open, transparent and “scrupulously honest” about the failings of the past.

Bishop Cottrell said: “I didn’t want anybody to have any suggestion that things were being covered up just because I’m going to be the Archbishop of York or a special case.

“There has been a full investigation, it has been found that some things that should have happened didn’t happen and although nobody is suggesting that I am not somebody that cannot properly safeguard the church, nevertheless, this did happen whilst I was in post and I share the responsibility for that.”

The allegations date back to before he became the Bishop of Chelmsford in 2010, and at a time when he was “moving between roles”. After meeting the survivor and hearing “what was a difficult and harrowing story”, he spoke to colleagues about actions that needed to be taken “but failed to ensure that these were properly documented and followed through”, he said.

Bishop Cottrell said he could not name the diocese the allegation took place in, but stated it was not in Yorkshire. He was previously based in Wakefield.

He did not go to the police with the allegations at the request of the alleged victim.

“What I did put in place for her was some pastoral support because, to be honest, she didn’t tell me much in that first meeting, which is, in my experience, very understandable,” he said.

“Rightly or wrongly, my response was to support her, and alert others so that the case would be followed through. Unfortunately it was not. I am deeply distressed and extremely sorry.”

He added the Church had “been too quick to protect its own reputation and slow to admit its failings” in the past.

“This must change, he said. “Those in public office should be subject to scrutiny. I wanted to be open about this, because I want to change the narrative about the church and safeguarding.”

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said he had read independent legal advice on the matter and that the Bishop Cottrell “clearly should have informed the authorities and made fuller notes of what he did in this case”.

The National Safeguarding Team said Bishop Cottrell had shown “insight and humility” in accepting that he failed to act as he should have done in relation to the “serious matter”.