Justin Welby joked about his own career demise after he was forced to resign following a daming report on church abuse

The outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has come under fire over a speech to the House of Lords in his first public address since announcing his resignation under a storm of controversy

The Archbishop of Canterbury said a “head had to roll” after the Church of England’s handling of the John Smyth sexual abuse scandal was made clear in a damming report.

Independent review accuses senior leaders within Church of England of cover-up, further spotlighting Justin Welby’s role and knowledge of the events - Anadolu Ajansı

THE Archbishop of Canterbury ’s final speech in the House of Lords has been described as “tone deaf” by a survivor of John Smyth ’s abuse. The Bishop of Newcastle, Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, also criticised the Archbishop for his use of “violent imagery”.

Welby stepped down on November 12 after the Makin review found he failed to formally report abuse committed by John Smyth, who died in 2018. | ITV National News

The Archbishop of Canterbury has apologised after being accused of making light of serious safeguarding failures in the Church of England. The Most Rev Justin Welby made his final speech in the House of Lords on Thursday and referred to a 14th-century beheading,