Church Abuse

Blog 1 March 2026

40 years on from the Ealing vicarage attack, Jill Saward’s ‘Rape My Story’ republished with new foreword and afterword

This month marks the 40th anniversary of the attack on Ealing vicarage that shocked Britain and changed the national conversation about rape. To coincide with…

Safeguarding “direction of travel” is not a destination

Parliament is being asked to approve a disciplinary system it is not allowed to see

A Cartoon-style illustration of a church disciplinary tribunal panel of five seated figures (a central male judge, with a male and female clergy member on one side and a male and female lay member on the other) deliberating at a bench, while a separate senior judge figure looks down from above. A large magnifying glass and torch shine over them, symbolising scrutiny of the system.

Why does the Church of England describe child abuse as an “intimate sexual relationship”?

A satirical editorial cartoon shows a bishop in purple robes standing at a podium in front of the Houses of Parliament. In front of him is a small stack of papers labelled “Clergy Conduct Measure.” Behind him, partly concealed by a drawn golden curtain, is a tall stack of documents labelled “Clergy Conduct Rules,” suggesting they are being hidden. Opposite him, members of the Ecclesiastical Committee — including a woman with curly white hair wearing a cross — sit at a table with a nameplate reading “Ecclesiastical Committee.” One member speaks in a speech bubble: “Where are the Rules?” A judge’s gavel rests in the foreground.

The real Clergy Conduct Measure is still behind the curtain

Satirical cartoon showing Church of England figures on the left insisting that secret tribunal hearings are “normal everywhere”, while on the right MPs and peers demand “Open justice” and “No more cover-ups”. A giant gavel labelled “Parliament” smashes a pedestal marked “Secret Tribunal”, with Westminster in the background.

Even after Parliament called it out, Synod members are still being misled about secret hearings

Caricature-style cartoon in landscape format showing a formal meeting scene. At centre, a suited chair with glasses leans toward a microphone, gesturing firmly as he declares a ruling. To his right, a wigged legal adviser sits hunched, covering part of his face with one hand in an embarrassed or evasive pose, with a small thought bubble showing ellipses. A bell, papers and glasses of water sit on the desk in front of them, against a wood-panelled background suggesting a formal chamber.

When scrutiny gets silenced: what are they trying to hide?

Cartoon illustration of the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, crouching behind a large shield labelled “Standing Orders” as members of the General Synod approach with raised hands, papers, and question marks, symbolising attempts to question or hold him to account.

Preaching accountability while closing the shutters

Cartoon illustration of the Church of England’s General Synod chamber, shown in a wide, circular hall with tiered seating and a domed ceiling. At the top table sit two blindfolded archbishops, one male and one female, wearing red episcopal robes. Around the scene, six large magnifying glasses peer in from the edges, labelled Charity Commission, Parliament, Coroner, Police, Victims & Survivors, and Campaigners & Advocates, symbolising external scrutiny of the Synod proceedings.

When the regulator comes knocking, the Archbishops’ Council puts on the blinkers

Archbishops' Council, Bishops, Blog, Briefings, Charity Commission, General Synod, Parliament 3 February 2026

Delay and control: the problems with the Archbishops’ Council’s safeguarding plans

A new briefing exposes how the Church of England’s latest safeguarding proposals delay true independence, keep control in-house, and fail to meet the needs of victims, Synod, and regulators.

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