Bishop of Guildford urges victims of church-related abuse to speak out
The Diocese of Guildford is conducting a review as part of a national operation by the Church of England.
Victims and survivors of church related abuse across Surrey and East Hampshire are being urged to speak out.
It comes as The Diocese of Guildford is also independently reviewing all its files on clergy and others as part of a national operation by the Church of England.
Bishop of Guildford, Andrew Watson, was himself a victim of physical abuse by the late John Smyth, a QC who beat young men and boys who attended Christian holiday camps in the 1970s and 80s.
Reverend Watson tells GHR it is vital people come forward: "I am very aware from a survivor's perspective that it is a challenging thing to do.
"And yet we may be able to help in some way, we may be able to follow up situations where there is continuing risk.
"And certainly we can learn, just to make sure the church is a really safe place in the future."
He also said: “Safe means different things to different people but this review will help us to ensure that the concerns reported to our churches have been dealt with properly, and the care taken and the support given is of the high quality that people rightly deserve.
"We have learnt from a previous review that survivors and victims’ voices are critical, and I would urge you to come forward.”
Anybody who would like to give information or make disclosures about church-related abuse is asked to contact Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor Jackie Broadfoot (jackie.broadfoot@cofeguildford.org.uk 07918 559387).
A dedicated telephone helpline - 0800 80 20 20 – operated independently from the Church of England by the NSPCC has also been set up.
The Diocese of Guildford has also established two listening services for those people who have experienced church related abuse but who might want to talk through their experiences and feeling before taking any next step.
The two different listening options (one within the Diocese and one managed independently of the Diocese by thirtyone:eight) will allow those people who do come forward to our Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor, to choose who and how they are supported.
More details on these two critical listening services can be found here. )
Susan Stephen, Safeguarding Services Manager at thirtyone:eight says: "At thirtyone:eight we know only too well how difficult it can be for people to talk about their experiences and to report what happened to them.
"But it is important to come forward so that today’s children and adults are better protected.
"I urge you to come forward. We will do all we can make it as easy as possible to talk to us. What you can tell us and what we can learn is important.”
Meanwhile, the Diocese of Guildford, with all the other Church of England dioceses, is continuing to work on a second independent review (PCR2) of all past cases and the files relating to all licensed and authorised staff.
Three independent reviewers are currently working through approximately 1,500 clergy and church officer files. The work has been underway since mid-May with a completion deadline of December 2021.
The Diocese says: The remit for the current review includes every living clergy person and all other living church officers, whether or not they are engaged in ministry, or in paid or voluntary work at the time of the review.
"Those who are not in ordained or licensed ministry become subject to review because their church role requires them to have contact with children and/or adults at risk of abuse.
"Although the files of deceased clergy are not within the scope of the PCR2 Review, the Diocese of Guildford has decided to commission the Independent Reviewers to continue their work at the end of this current review, and to review the files of deceased clergy as well."