As well as heading the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury acts as the “first among equals” leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion, which includes the Episcopal Church in the United States. Although Smyth sought ordination to the Church of England, he was refused and moved to Zimbabwe in 1984. The report estimates he went on to abuse 85 to 100 male children aged 13 to 17 in Africa. During his time in office, Welby has demanded accountability from those accused of mishandling abuse, including his predecessor, Lord Carey, and the former Bishop of Lincoln. A resignation by an Archbishop of Canterbury over child abuse would be without any obvious historical precedent and there is no mechanism with which to remove an archbishop.

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Persons: Canterbury, John Smyth, Justin Welby’s, “, Welby, Smyth, Welby “, Justin Welby, ”, Newcastle, Ann Hartley, Marcus Walker, St Bartholomew the Great, Bishop, Guildford, Andrew Watson, ” Smyth, Lord Carey, of Lincoln Organizations: London CNN, of, of England, Episcopal Church, British, Church of England, BBC, CNN, Eton College Locations: of England, United States, Makin, London, ” Lambeth, South Africa, “, Zimbabwe, Africa, Britain, ”