The Makin Review, which was published last week, reveals both the horrors of John Smyth’s abuse and the very serious failings in the response in the early 1980s and in the decades afterwards. We must pray for the many whose lives have been profoundly affected as a result, as well as for all victims and survivors of abuse.

It is vital that the Review’s warnings and recommendations are fully heeded. It can be found here.

There have been huge changes in safeguarding policy and practice within the Church of England, as in all institutions, in recent years. Safeguarding is an absolute priority for us at St Ebbe’s. We have been grateful for the support and guidance of the Oxford Diocesan safeguarding team, which has received positive affirmation from a recent independent audit (see here). The church safeguarding team and PCC keep our own safeguarding under constant review to seek to ensure the very best practice, as well as awareness and vigilance across the whole church community.

We are aware of the vital importance of culture in safeguarding. In 2021 the PCC initiated a thorough review of our governance and safeguarding practices, processes and procedures which was significantly informed by the 31:8 review into the abuses of Jonathan Fletcher, which raised many important matters of concern for conservative evangelical churches (see here). This was followed by a second phase, ‘Healthier Church Culture’ review. We continue to review aspects of our culture regularly in meetings of the PCC and its Committees.

The Makin Review contains strong criticisms of David Fletcher (Rector of St Ebbe’s from 1986-1998). We deeply regret his failure to respond to the abuse as he should have done.

Vaughan Roberts is mentioned once in the Review. He met and was fully transparent with Mr Makin, as he has been with us, about what he knew and when, in relation to Smyth’s abuse. In the light of this, Mr Makin made no criticism of him (as he has also made clear in communication with Vaughan), and he was not included in the process which gave those criticised in the Review an opportunity to see what was said about them in advance of its publication. Vaughan was a 16 year old pupil at Winchester College when the abuse was first exposed in 1982. He never met Smyth and knew nothing about the abuse until a brief conversation in 1989 with a friend, who referred very vaguely to a scandal which had occurred. A few weeks later Vaughan read his headmaster’s autobiography, which contained an account, which greatly understated the reality of what happened and implied the facts were already widely known by those in authority. Very occasionally in the intervening years reference to these events was made in a conversation in very vague terms, but none changed the impression he had been given by the book. It was only after the Channel 4 report in 2017 that he had any awareness of the extent and brutality of what happened, let alone the fact that under 18s were involved. He, along with the rest of us, was horrified and deeply shocked by this.

The news of the last week is likely to be triggering for those who have experienced abuse of any kind. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to any in the pastoral team. If you want to speak to someone independently, the Safe Spaces helpline is available on 0300 303 1056 or visit safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk.

If you ever have any questions or concerns whatsoever in relation to safeguarding, please be in touch with any member of our safeguarding team (details here). If you would prefer to speak to someone outside St Ebbe’s – please contact the Oxford Diocese Safeguarding Team here or the independent safeguarding charity thrityone:eight, here.

On Sunday mornings we have recently been looking at John 10, where the Lord Jesus speaks of abusive leaders, who come ‘only to steal and kill and destroy’. Our right outrage at evil is nothing compared to his. At a time when our trust in human leaders and institutions, including the church, is very low, it is good to be reminded that Jesus, by contrast from the leaders he condemns, is ‘the good shepherd’, ‘who lays down his life for the sheep’. Whatever the sins and failings of others, however terrible, we can be sure that he can be entirely trusted and will never let us down.

Greg Brisk (Churchwarden)
Suzanne Wilson-Higgins (Churchwarden)
Alison Willis (Parish Safeguarding Officer)