Gloucestershire reverend has license revoked after connection to John Smyth review

The reverend was a pastor at the Trinity Church in Cheltenham.

Reverend Nick Stott was a pastor at Trinity Church Cheltenham.
Author: Jessica McGillivrayPublished 22nd Nov 2024

Reverend Nick Stott has had his license removed after he was named in the review into serial child abuser John Smyth.

Although there is no suggestion that he was involved in any of the abuse, Stott set up and helped fund some of Smyth's camps in Zimbabwe where abuse was found to take place.

The Archbishop of Canterbury recently stood down after criticism of his handling of the case.

The report found that Stott had attended camps in Zimbabwe with Smyth where he had said that he witnessed ‘surprising’ behaviour.

The Makin report also tells of how Stott was warned against working with Smyth but still chose to join him on his mission in Zimbabwe.

From 2001 Stott lead the Zambesi Trust work that funded Smyth’s time in Africa, he was also handed leadership of the Zambesi camps.

The report revealed that Stott had been told in the 80’s about an ‘issue’ with Smyth but was not told any details.

Stott told reviewers that ‘he felt, at that time, that it was not his place to go investigating rumours and, in hindsight, he wishes he had done so’.

A joint statement from the Bishop of Gloucester and the Bishop of Tewkesbury reads:

“The Makin report on John Smyth makes sickening and sobering reading. That this level of abuse could be going on in the Church and other institutions, and knowingly by so many, is abhorrent and disturbs us to our core.

“As Bishops in the Church of England we are profoundly sorry for the hurt, the pain and the suffering which victims and survivors of John Smyth’s abuse have endured, and we are ashamed at the Church’s response to the allegations. We are also appalled that any clergy person could believe that covering up abuse was justified in the name of the Gospel.

“We agree with the Archbishop’s decision to resign, and hope that this goes some way in acknowledging the failures of the Church to act and respond to survivors and victims of this horrific abuse, while recognising that this can never undo the pain and impact on people’s lives.

“Since the publication of the Makin Review, the Diocese of Gloucester’s Safeguarding Team has been conducting a safeguarding review, linked to those named in the report within our diocese. This review is joined up with the work of the National Safeguarding Team.

“As Bishops we will continue to advocate for a process of satisfactory redress for victims and survivors of abuse and remain committed to creating a safer culture across our Diocese, and safeguarding the welfare of every child, young person and adult.

“We continue to pray for all whose lives continue to be impacted by the publication of the report and all that led to it becoming necessary”.

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