The Church of England has formally dismissed a complaint concerning the incoming Archbishop of Canterbury's handling of a historical abuse allegation, clearing the path for her imminent installation.
Complaint Review Finds No Grounds for Action
Sarah Mullally, the current Bishop of London, is scheduled to become Archbishop of Canterbury on 28 January. The complaint against her related to her handling of an allegation made against a priest in the Diocese of London. The review was conducted by the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, who announced on Thursday that he had decided to take no further action.
The complainant, a man referred to as Survivor N, alleges the abuse began in 2014 and was reported to the diocese. He claims that after making a formal complaint in 2019, Bishop Mullally breached church disciplinary protocol by sending a confidential email about the allegation to the priest in question. Survivor N has stated that the diocese's handling of his complaint left him feeling suicidal.
Criticism of Process and Lingering Trust Deficit
The decision has been met with significant criticism from within the church. Critics point out that Archbishop Cottrell himself faced calls to resign last year over his handling of a separate safeguarding case, raising questions about the independence of the review.
Robert Thompson, an Anglican vicar and General Synod member, has called for a pause in Mullally's installation. In a statement, he argued that the dismissal “does not close the trust deficit” and “reinforces a longstanding perception that senior leaders are insulated from meaningful scrutiny.”
He emphasised that procedural closure is not the same as true accountability, urging the church to implement genuinely independent oversight to rebuild credibility with abuse survivors.
Admission of Past Failures and Path Forward
The Diocese of London has maintained that proper processes were followed and that there is no outstanding complaint against Bishop Mullally. However, officials at Lambeth Palace admitted that a 2020 complaint about her handling was not followed up due to “administrative errors and an incorrect assumption about the individual’s wishes.”
Last year, Mullally herself acknowledged that the 2020 complaint “was not properly dealt with” and said she was seeking assurances that processes at Lambeth Palace had been strengthened.
Under church rules, Survivor N now has 14 days to request an independent review of Archbishop Cottrell's decision by the president of tribunals. The controversy emerges as the Church of England continues to grapple with profound questions about its safeguarding culture and accountability at the highest levels.
