Press release from the Church of England
Update on Smyth Review
29/07/2021
An update on timing for the Smyth Review from the National Safeguarding Team:
For the survivors and victims of the appalling abuse by Smyth it is vital this review is done thoroughly but we have also taken very seriously their concerns on timing. Due to the ongoing high volume of information coming into the reviewers, following the recent publication of an executive summary and statements relating to Smyth, it has been agreed that the deadline for submission of evidence will now be September 30. The reviewers will then compile data and timelines and set up any further meetings before writing up their report. This will be followed by a representation process once the report has been completed, publication is expected in 2022.
We apologise for the length of time this has taken, while some meetings were delayed by COVID the reviewers have also been dealing with an exceptionally high volume of information which has needed looking into; this has included harrowing testimonies from survivors and victims and we thank them for their courage and willingness to participate.
After the deadline of September 30 arrangements will be made by the reviewers to listen to any further survivors and victims, or those who have other information, who wish to come forward to share their experiences in a supported and confidential manner.
Both the reviewers and the Church recognise that giving information to this review has the potential to be re-traumatising for victims and survivors.
Support continues to be offered; please contact Emily Denne at emily.denne@churchofengland.org
or call the independent Safe Spaces helpline, on 0300 303 1056, or email safespaces@victimsupport.org.uk
Anyone who would like to come forward and share information please do contact the independent reviewer Keith Makin keith.makin@independentreviews.live
Have people picked up on the article on ‘Surviving Church’ which explores the story of Stephen Neill? Reading it at the present time it felt like a precursor of the John Smyth tale. Interesting (certainly to me) how the retelling of Neill’s story seemed to highlight his misogyny. How honest are folk prepared to be about the misogynistic slants in the tales of John Smyth and the brothers Fletcher, which seems to me to be such a part of the conservative evangelical mindset?
I assumed that the lack of any response on this thread until now indicated that TA readers had become thoroughly wearied of the subject of John Smyth. Assuming that the present revised timescale is followed, the Makin report will be in its fourth year when it is published (what can it be costing?). Similarities between Neill and Smyth are very obvious, although (from a male perspective) I had not detected misogyny. Totally male-orientated, yes, but that is a rather different thing.