Question

To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what discussions the Church has had with the Government of Zimbabwe on John Smyth QC.

The National Church Institutions of the Church of England have engaged with the Church of Southern Africa and the Church of the Province of Central Africa regarding the historic safeguarding cases relating to John Smyth. The two provinces of the Anglican Communion are independent from the Church of England, and discussions with the Government of Zimbabwe would be a matter for the Province of Central Africa.

The Church of Southern Africa held its own review into the activity of John Smyth’s activities which was published on the 3rd February 2025 and can be found here: https://anglicanchurchsa.org/archbishops-panel-of-inquiry-pinpoints-churchs-failures-on-smyth-abuse-report/ and Archbishop Thabo published a statement, which can be read here: https://anglicanchurchsa.org/archbishop-thabo-apologises-for-churchs-failures-over-abuse/

There have also been extensive discussions with the Province of Central Africa, and Archbishop Chama has been encouraged to undertake a similar review to that held by the Church of Southern Africa.