As Dame Sarah Mullally becomes Archbishop of Canterbury designate, it is a moment of opportunity to act on safeguarding and to rebuild trust so that the Church can once again be a place of safety and hope for all.
Dame Sarah spoke at length in her first speech on the importance of challenging abuses of power and supporting victim-survivors and the vulnerable. It was good to see the future of safeguarding in the church of England highlighted. Now is the time for action.
As a Christian safeguarding charity, we believe that the following priorities are vital to strengthening safeguarding across the Church of England.
1. Resolving Redress and Survivor Engagement
Many survivors of abuse within the Church of England are still waiting for recognition, resolution, and redress. Bringing this work to completion must be an urgent priority. Not only that, but Survivors’ voices need to be heard and respected—not only in shaping redress schemes but in guiding how the Church learns and improves its efforts in preventing abuse.
2. Concluding Independence and Scrutiny
Independent oversight is essential for safeguarding to be trusted and effective. We encourage the Archbishop to conclude the process of establishing fully independent structures for scrutiny and accountability. Independence will strengthen the church’s mission through transparency, ensuring that safeguarding is beyond reproach and beyond doubt.
3. Culture Change
True safeguarding is rooted in a culture of care. Policies and procedures set the framework, but real change happens when every person in the Church understands that protecting the vulnerable is part of our mandate as Christians. We hope the Archbishop will champion humility, courage, and a willingness to confront difficult truths—values at the heart of a Christ-centred culture.
4. Rebuilding Confidence, Trust and Transparency
The damage caused by past failings is deep, and rebuilding trust will take time, transparency, and consistency. We encourage the Archbishop to communicate openly and regularly about safeguarding progress, acknowledging challenges as well as achievements. By modelling honesty and accountability, the Church can demonstrate that safeguarding is not an administrative task, but a Gospel imperative—an expression of love, justice, and care for every person.
Dame Sarah Mullally’s appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury designate offers a crucial opportunity for real change in safeguarding.
Her commitment to challenging abuses of power must now be matched by decisive action. By prioritising safeguarding, the church can heal, restore confidence and focus on its calling to protect the vulnerable, uphold justice, and reflect Christ’s love in action.
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Synod update - The future of safeguarding in the Church of England