The archbishop of York is expected to highlight the need for actions more than words in a Christmas sermon, as the Church of England faces criticism over failures in its handling of recent abuse scandals.
Stephen Cottrell, who will become temporary leader of the Church in England in early January in place of the outgoing archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is expected to say the church must “kneel in penitence and adoration” this Christmas and “be changed”.
Welby will formally step down from his post as the de facto leader of the Church of England next month after resigning in November over the C of E’s failures in dealing with a serial abuser of 130 boys and young men in three countries over several decades.
The Makin report into the abuse by the barrister and church lay reader John Smyth, and the church’s failure to tackle it, concluded justice may have been brought had Welby formally reported him to police in 2013 when allegations about abuse were brought before the archbishop.
Cottrell, however, has also faced calls to resign after revelations that another priest at the centre of a sexual abuse case was twice reappointed under him while he was serving as bishop of Chelmsford. Earlier this week, Cottrell said things “could have been handled differently”.
Victims of David Tudor have branded Cottrell’s response to the case “insulting and upsetting” and suggested that his resignation or him being forced out of his leading role in the church was “inevitable”.
A spokeswoman for Cottrell said no one had advised him at the time that Tudor should not continue as an area dean and she added that even had he not continued in that role, it would not have meant he was removed as parish priest.
Cottrell’s credibility has also been called into question by the bishop of Newcastle, Helen-Ann Hartley, and the bishop of Gloucester, Rachel Treweek, who declined to publicly back him.
“Right now, this Christmas, God’s church itself needs to come to the manger and strip off her finery and kneel in penitence and adoration,” Cottrell is expected to say. “And be changed.
“At the centre of the Christmas story is a vulnerable child; a vulnerable child that Herod’s furious wrath will try and destroy, for like every tyrant he cannot abide a rival.
“The Church of England … needs to look at this vulnerable child, at this emptying out of power to demonstrate the power of love, for in this vulnerable child we see God,” he is due to add.
“This is what we learn at the manger. Put the needs of others first – those who are cold and hungry and homeless this Christmas. Those who are victims of abuse and exploitation. Those who, like the little holy family, have to flee oppression and seek refuge in a foreign land.”
Referencing a message for the world, Cottrell is expected to raise the importance of deeds over words, adding: “Don’t just talk about justice, don’t just talk about service, don’t just talk about love. Show me.”
The process to replace Welby is expected to take months, with an announcement about a new archbishop of Canterbury possible in autumn 2025.
